The Zambia Flying Doctor Service (ZFDS) has airlifted three patients from Chinsali General Hospital in Muchinga Province to Lusaka for specialist care at the University Teaching Hospitals (UTH) Adult Hospital and Eye Hospital.

The evacuation followed a request from Chinsali General Hospital Medical Superintendent, Dr. Chanda Ngosa, to the Ministry of Health. The evacuation was subsequently authorised by the Permanent Secretary – Technical Services.

The ZFDS aircraft , yesterday 29th September 2926, departed from the ZFDS headquarters in the morning for Chinsali, where the patients were picked up and evacuated to Lusaka. The aircraft landed at the Zambia Air Force (ZAF) Base at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in the afternoon, where waiting medical teams from the receiving hospitals took over the patients for specialised treatment.

Among the patients evacuated was a 20-year-old man with a severe traumatic brain injury and an extensive subdural haematoma, whose condition had been deteriorating.

A 38-year-old man with a spinal cord injury and multiple maxillofacial fractures sustained in a road traffic accident was also airlifted. Both patients were transferred to UTH Adult Hospital for specialist management.

Also on board was a 12-year-old girl with a chronic corneal ulcer, who was transferred to the UTH Eye Hospital for specialist ophthalmological care.

The mission was flown by ZFDS Director of Aviation, Lasford Manchisi, with Captain Chanda Mumpangwe serving as co-pilot. In-flight medical care was provided by Paramedic Dan Moonga and Anaesthetist Bupe Musenge.

The successful mission highlights the vital role of air ambulance services in bridging the gap between general hospitals and national referral centres, particularly for patients whose conditions require urgent specialist care.

Through its air ambulance operations, ZFDS continues to support the Ministry of Health in ensuring that patients in remote and underserved areas can access specialised healthcare when and where it is needed.