Recent NEWS
#ZFDSKINGAIRBeechcracftB200, #univeralcovrageforall, #zambiaflyingdoctorservice
29 December 2025
Ndola, 29th December 2025 , The Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Elijah Muchima, today officially commissioned the Beechcraft King Air B200 at the Zambia Flying Doctor Service (ZFDS) Headquarters in Ndola, marking a major milestone in the revitalisation of the country’s emergency medical aviation services.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Hon. Dr. Muchima described the transformation of ZFDS as a powerful symbol of a “promise kept” by the Government to the Zambian people. He emphasized that the addition of the King Air B200 reflects the successful implementation of a deliberate and strategic vision to restore an institution that had previously struggled with ageing infrastructure and limited operational capacity.
The event was attended by several senior government and civic leaders, including Copperbelt Deputy Provincial Permanent Secretary Mr. Daniel Kamenga, Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Dr. Kennedy Lishimpi, Bwana Mukubwa Member of Parliament Hon. Warren Mwambazi, Ndola Mayor His Worship Mr. Jones Kalyati, Ndola District Commissioner Ms. Precious Njekwa, Copperbelt Provincial Health Director Dr. Charles Mwinuna, and Zambia Civil Aviation Authority Director General Captain Derrick Luembe, various stakeholders ,among others.
Dr. Muchima highlighted the contrast between the state of ZFDS when the New Dawn Government assumed office ,when only one was serviceable and maintenance backlogs were overwhelming and the present reality.
Under the leadership of Republican President Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, the Government recapitalised ZFDS with an investment of K167 million, leading to the acquisition of additional aircraft and improved infrastructure.
ZFDS Chief Executive Officer Dr. George Ng’uni expressed gratitude to President Hichilema for his unwavering support, noting that ZFDS has expanded its outreach programmes from just three per year to eight concurrent monthly missions, reaching over 144,000 patients in 2025 alone.
Ndola Mayor Mr. Jones Kalyati shared a personal testimony, describing ZFDS as “family,” and encouraged Ndola residents to utilise the world class medical services available locally rather than seeking treatment abroad.
Senior Chief Chiwala of Masaiti attending with Chief Nkambo, expressed deep satisfaction with the transformation, noting how the expanded reach brings hope to rural communities.
Representing the Copperbelt Minister Hon. Elisha Matambo, Deputy PS Mr. Daniel Kamenga acknowledged that ZFDS has been restored from the brink of collapse and now operates a fleet of four air services, supported by upgraded facilities. The Copperbelt Minister further commended the ZFDS team for their effective stewardship, citing the transformation of the AeroMED James Lawless Facility into a world-class diagnostic and surgical hub as a model for other parastatals.
In closing, Copperbelt Provincial Health Director Dr. Charles Mwinuna delivered a vote of thanks to the Government and all stakeholders for their continued support in advancing Universal Health Coverage in Zambia.
As ZFDS, we remain deeply grateful to the Government of the Republic of Zambia, the Ministry of Health, and above all, God, for this remarkable achievement.
This milestone marks the beginning of even greater accomplishments for the Zambia Flying Doctor Service. Well done team ZFDS
#zambiaflyingdoctorservice, #2025achievements
19 December 2025
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This morning, ZFDS Management team led by the Chief Executive Officer,Dr. George Ng’uni paid a courtesy call on the Copperbelt Province Minister, Hon. Elisha Matambo and the Provincial leadership, during which key achievements recorded in 2025 were highlighted.
Among the notable milestones achieved were:
1. The acquisition of a helicopter to enhance emergency response and outreach services;
2. A total of 1,000 flight hours, covering an approximate distance of 50,000 kilometers evacuating patients and conducting medical evacuations;
3. The official opening of the theatre, significantly enhancing ZFDS’s capacity to provide advanced surgical and emergency medical services;
4. Significant progress in the medical sector, with 143,943 patients attended to and 374 medical facilities visited across 58 districts;
5. The upgrading of the James Lawless facility to a Level One Hospital by the Health Professions Council of Zambia (HPCZ);
Looking ahead, ZFDS is set to receive its first-ever pressurised aircraft in the coming weeks. This development will greatly enhance effective and efficient service delivery, particularly to hard-to-reach areas.
As we prepare for an even greater 2026, we remain deeply grateful for the unwavering support received throughout 2025.
#zambiaflyingdoctorservice, #teambuilding, #wearezfds
16 December 2025
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Today, 16th December 2025, ZFDS Management convened a one-day management breakaway session aimed at strengthening strategic planning for the year 2026. During the session, each Director and Head of Department presented their respective departmental focus areas for the coming year, all geared toward enhancing effective and efficient service delivery.
The session characterized by each one being given a nick name encouraged open dialogue, teamwork, and collaboration, creating an enabling environment for meaningful engagement and shared vision for a stronger and more united ZFDS.
At ZFDS, we believe that such engagements are vital in enabling us to effectively pursue our mandate of serving rural and hard-to-reach areas across the Country.
#zambiaflyingdoctorservice, #lwiindilyachuundutradtionalceremony
15 December 2025
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The Zambia Flying Doctor Service (ZFDS) yesterday 14th December, 2025 successfully utilized the Lwiindi lya Chuundu Traditional Ceremony in Kazungula District, Southern Province, as a strategic platform for a significant health intervention.
This medical outreach is a core part of the ZFDS's mission to bridge healthcare access gaps, particularly in hard-to-reach communities who gather for traditional events like this ceremony, hosted by Senior Chief Sekute IX.
The Service deployed a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary team, which achieved substantial results over the one-day outreach:
* A total of over 470 patients received general screenings.
* The eye care unit provided screening and treatment to 187 individuals.
* 74 diagnostic tests were conducted on-site by the mobile laboratory.
* The pharmacy unit dispensed 248 prescriptions across all medical disciplines.
The low referral rate and successful on-site management of one emergency case underscore the effectiveness of bringing comprehensive, quality healthcare directly to the communities.
The ceremony itself was a unifying, high-profile event, attracting Chiefs from Southern, Western, Luapula, Northern, Copperbelt, and Northwestern Provinces , as well as King Bongwe from South Africa.
Representing the Republican President Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Gift Sialubalo, commended the traditional leaders for fostering unity.
The Minister further stressed the Government's commitment to ensuring this innovative approach reaches every corner of the country.
#zambiaflyingdoctorservice, #mayukwayukwaoutreach, #universalhealthcoverageforall
09 December 2025
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A teenage boy from Namalazi 2 Kaposhi rural community in Kaoma, Western Province, is recovering following emergency surgery performed by ZFDS Surgeon Dr. Kelly Makonko. The operation became necessary after a snakebite incident over a week ago resulted in the loss of his right index finger.
The boy was out with friends searching for mice—a common activity among children in the area—when he reached into a hole and was bitten by what is believed to be a cytotoxic snake, known for causing severe tissue damage. The venom caused cellulitis and eventually dry gangrene of the finger.
According to his grandmother, this was the boy's second snakebite. He survived a previous incident the year before after traditional treatment was applied. However, this time the same remedies proved ineffective. The delay in seeking medical care at Mangango Mission Hospital allowed the condition to deteriorate until the finger became gangrenous.
Dr. Makonko performed a disarticulation of the right index finger to remove the dead tissue and prevent infection from spreading. The procedure was successful thanks to coordination by the ZFDS team, which included Patrick Chingumbe and Emmanuel Nyau (Anaesthetists), Simon Tembo (Theatre Nurse), and Catherine Liyato (Cleaner).
Dr. Makonko noted concern about the psychological impact of losing such a functional digit. "The index finger plays a big role in writing, holding objects, and performing everyday tasks. He may need counselling," he explained.
In other news A 27-year-old mother of four from Mayukwayukwa Refugee Camp came forward when she learned the ZFDS team was visiting, hoping for treatment of severe keloids that have plagued her for six years. What began as small pimples gradually developed into large, painful, and itchy keloid growths.
The woman described how the condition has impacted nearly every aspect of her daily life. The pain and size of the growths have made it impossible for her to do piecework, work in the fields, or even carry her youngest child on her back. She expressed desperate hope for relief and willingness to travel to any hospital for proper treatment.
Dr. Kelly Makonko assessed her condition and determined it requires specialized care from plastic surgeons. Recommendations were made to Lewanika General Hospital, which is expected to refer the patient to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka for further management.
These are some of the rare cases found in the rural parts of our Country and we continue to bridge the gap to ensure health care is accessible to all.
#zambiaflyingdoctorservice, #chililabombwemunicipalcouncil, #kasumbalesaboarderpost, #preventcholera
07 December 2025
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The Zambia Flying Doctor Service (ZFDS) has successfully concluded a five-day public health intervention at Kasumbalesa border post, focusing on Cholera disease prevention and community health awareness.
The campaign, which was officially launched on Tuesday by Ndola District Commissioner Precious Njekwa, who represented the Minister of Copperbelt Hon.Elisha Matambo, targeted critical areas at the busy international border crossing between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The comprehensive initiative included sensitization sessions, liming activities, and distribution of essential health supplies across two key wards: Anoya Zulu Ward and Kasumbalesa Ward.
The health team concentrated their efforts on high-traffic areas identified as critical for disease prevention:
*Main shelters and accommodation facilities.
*Ablution blocks and sanitation areas.
*Truck parking zones where drivers congregate.
*Markets where live animals are sold
To equally support hygiene and disease prevention, the team distributed:
*Chlorine for water treatment and disinfection.
*ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) sachets for managing dehydration and diarrheal diseases
*lime for the pit latrines and drainages that have collected water.
This intervention comes in the context of the Ministry of Healths ongoing efforts to control cholera, following the Country outbreak in history which began in October 2023.
The outbreak, which peaked in early 2024, affected all ten provinces and resulted in over 23,000 cases.
Lusaka was the epicenter, but the Copperbelt Province, where Kasumbalesa is located, also saw significant transmission.
The Government declared a commitment to ending cholera by 2030, with President Hakainde Hichilema serving as the Global Cholera Champion.
The current rainy season, which runs through June, poses heightened risks for cholera transmission, making preventive interventions at high-traffic areas like border posts particularly critical.
The intervention aims to reduce the spread of waterborne diseases and improve sanitation standards at this busy international border crossing.
The Zambia Flying Doctor Service and the Chililabombwe Municipal Council presence at Kasumbalesa underscores the Governments commitment and importance of preventive health measures at border areas, where large numbers of people, goods, and vehicles pass through daily between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Together we can fight Cholera.
#zambiaflyingdoctorservice, #eyecareforallzambians, #kaputaoutreach
06 December 2025
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The Zambia Flying Doctor Service (ZFDS) has identified multiple cases of trachoma, a preventable infectious eye disease, during the ongoing outreach in Kaputa District, Luapula province prompting urgent community health interventions.
Confirmed cases were found in Muchenja, Chocha, and Kasungwe, while suspected cases were noted in Kalaba. All confirmed cases have been assessed and treated according to standard medical guidelines.
Trachoma is an infectious eye disease caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, which spreads through direct contact with eye or nasal discharge, shared cloths, and flies.
Repeated infections can cause scarring of the eyelids and eventually lead to permanent vision loss if not addressed early.
The disease remains a significant public health concern in parts of Kaputa District, particularly in rural areas where access to clean water and sanitation facilities may be limited.
In response to the findings, ZFDS medical personnel conducted extensive Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) sessions with community members in the affected areas. Residents were educated on recognizing symptoms, preventing the spread of infection, and seeking early treatment.
Some of the Key preventive measures emphasized during the outreach include:
*Regular face washing, especially for children.
*Proper sanitation and safe waste disposal.
*Avoiding sharing towels or cloths.
*Keeping living environments clean to reduce fly breeding.
The district health team has been formally notified and is working to support further interventions. These include broader case finding efforts, increased disease surveillance, and the establishment of community-level preventive programmes to halt further spread in the affected areas.
The ZFDS intervention highlights the critical need for continued health education and improved sanitation infrastructure in rural communities to prevent trachoma and protect residents from preventable blindness.
#zambiaflyingdoctorservice, #ng'angabilondahospital, #eyecareforallzamians, #ZFDSmonthlysurgicalcamps
06 December 2025
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The Zambia Flying Doctor Service (ZFDS) flew specialist cataract surgeon Oliver Chenga into Mwansabombwe on Monday, December 1st, 2025, to conduct critical eye surgeries at Ng'anga Bilonda Hospital.
In just four days, the surgeon has performed 16 successful operations, including 10 cataract surgeries that are restoring sight and hope to residents who have long lived without access to specialized eye care.
The surgical team continues to demonstrate the transformative power of accessible healthcare, successfully completing multiple critical operations that had been out of reach for rural residents.
During the ongoing Mwansabombwe Surgical Camp, ZFDS successfully restored sight to a 74-year-old woman from Kasao Village in Kazembe, Mwansabombwe District, Luapula Province.
She began experiencing severely blurred vision at the beginning of this year. The deteriorating condition eventually left her completely blind and fully dependent on family members for daily activities.
In her community, fear and misinformation had spread about eye surgeries, with some claiming that the procedures involved removing patients' eyes entirely.
Despite these rumors, she came to Ng'anga Bilonda Hospital when she heard about the surgical outreach. After screening, she was scheduled for cataract surgery as part of the ZFDS programme.
She expressed gratitude for how warmly the medical team welcomed her and thanked God for the opportunity.
When her eye patches were removed this morning, the transformation was immediate and powerful.
She could see again—recognizing faces and objects instantly. Overcome with joy, she exclaimed, "If I had wings, I could have flown!" expressing the depth of her happiness at regaining her sight.
The moment was particularly significant given what she had endured: the ridicule from community members when they noticed her blindness, the isolation, and the despair that had consumed her.
Now able to see again, she had a powerful message for others suffering from similar conditions: come to Ng'anga Bilonda Hospital. She urged people to ignore the false information circulating in the community about eye surgeries and emphasized that the medical team is there to help, not harm.
The ZFDS surgical outreach continues at Ng'anga Bilonda Hospital, bringing life-changing interventions to those who need them most.
#zambiaflyingdoctorservice, #universalcoverageforall, #mayukwayukwaoutreach
06 December 2025
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For three long years, a father watched his five-year-old son suffer with an undescended testis, helpless and without answers.
When he first brought his son to Mangango Mission Hospital in 2022, he was turned away—there was no surgeon available to perform the operation at the time .
"I returned home feeling hopless about when my child would ever receive help," the father recalled, his voice heavy with the weight of those years of waiting.
But hope arrived in the form of the Zambia Flying Doctor Service (ZFDS) surgical team.
This week, the young boy finally received the life-changing surgery he had been waiting for since he was just two years old.
"I am very happy that my son has finally received the medical attention he desperately needed.
Our entire family is greatly relieved," the emotional father said after the successful operation.
This story is one of many unfolding at Mangango Mission Hospital, where the ZFDS surgical team has set up camp to serve the people of Mayukwayukwa Refugee Camp and surrounding areas.
Each day, the dedicated medical team travels 40 kilometres from Mayukwayukwa to Mangango, transporting patients scheduled for surgery and returning those who have recovered.
On the first day of operations, the team successfully performed two procedures: an excision of a pre-auricular skin tag and a herniorrhaphy for a left inguinal hernia.
The following day brought three more successful surgeries, including the five-year-old's operation for right undescended testis and right inguinal hernia, a 10-year-old with bilateral undescended testis, and a patient with right hand hydrocele.
However, the team has also faced sobering challenges that highlight the healthcare gaps in rural areas.
A 77-year-old man with a thyroglossal cyst could not be operated on due to the unavailability of a CT scan.More critically, a 10-year-old boy with a right inguinal hernia and massive splenomegaly causing severe anaemia was referred to Lewanika Hospital because Mangango lacked the blood products necessary for his surgery.
In a dramatic emergency intervention, the ZFDS team saved the lives of a 15-year-old expectant mother and her baby.
The young woman, who had traveled from far beyond Mayukwayukwa and was en route to Kaoma with fetal distress, benefited from the surgical team's presence in the area.
Dr. Simui Silume, performed an emergency caesarean section with assistance from ZFDS anaesthetist Mr. Patrick Chingumbe.
The surgical procedures are being carried out by a skilled team including Dr. Kelly Makonko (General Surgeon), Mr. Patrick Chingumbe (Anaesthetist), Mr. Emmanuel Nyau (Anaesthetist), Dr. Simui Silume (Medical Licentiate Officer), and theatre nurses Simon Tembo, Helen Kayaba, Sinyangwe Changala, and Mutumba Mufungulwa.
For families like this grateful father and his son, the ZFDS surgical outreach represents more than just medical care—it's the restoration of hope after years of waiting, and proof that even the most underserved communities deserve access to quality healthcare.
#zambiaflyingdoctorservice, #mayukwayukwaoutreach, #traditionalleadershipappreciatesZFDS, #healthcareforall
06 December 2025
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The Zambia Flying Doctor Service (ZFDS) team on an outreach in Kaoma District, Western Province have paid a courtesy visit on the Kaoma District Commissioner, Mrs.Kashina Muyambango , who expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the team's presence in District and for the free medical services currently being provided in Mayukwayukwa Refugee Camp.
Visibly moved by the initiative, she commended ZFDS for its unwavering commitment to delivering health care to underserved communities, noting that such efforts bring hope to those who often feel forgotten.
The team also paid courtesy calls on Senior Chief Mutondo and Senior Chief Mulena Mbanga Lubosi Yeta, strengthening collaboration with traditional leadership in the district.
The visits left a profound impact on the traditional leaders, who saw firsthand the difference that accessible healthcare makes in their communities.
ZFDS Team Lead Dr. Mesha Shimumba stated that the ZFDS team has been operating in the district since Sunday and will continue offering services to the people of Mayukwayukwa and surrounding areas for a week.
Senior Chief Mutondo expressed deep appreciation for the work being done by ZFDS, saying he was "extremely happy and at a loss for words" to describe his gratitude.
He recounted a personal experience: "You airlifted my nephew in Chinsali, and for that I am truly grateful. You did not just save a life—you saved my family."
Senior Chief Mulena Mbanga Lubosi Yeta warmly welcomed the ZFDS team at his palace, expressing how the Service brings dignity and relief to communities that have long struggled with limited access to quality healthcare.
The medical mission, which began on Monday, December 1st, 2025, has revealed that the team attend to over 423 patients within the first 3 days .
It has been noted that Malaria remains the most prevalent condition, alongside other infectious tropical diseases.The team also identified significant cases of non-communicable diseases, particularly hypertension and osteoarthritis among adults.
The comprehensive healthcare services have reached hundreds of patients across three clinic locations.
These courtesy calls reflect a strong spirit of cooperation and goodwill between ZFDS and the traditional leadership, demonstrating their shared commitment to improving health outcomes and enhancing the wellbeing of communities.
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