The Zambia Flying Doctor Service (ZFDS) has successfully conducted a coordinated aeromedical evacuation of a 21-year-old male patient from Kitwe Teaching Hospital to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka for specialised management following a serious road traffic incident.

The patient sustained a severe spinal cord injury and mandibular fractures after falling from a moving vehicle. He was admitted to Kitwe Teaching Hospital following referral from Kalulushi General Hospital.

Given the severity of the spinal injury and the need for specialised intervention at UTH, the Senior Medical Superintendent at Kitwe Teaching Hospital, Dr Chileshe Mboni, made an urgent request through the Ministry of Health for aeromedical evacuation, citing the need for safe and appropriate transportation.

In response, ZFDS deployed two aircraft to facilitate the transfer and ensure the patient reached Lusaka without unnecessary delay.

The first stage of the operation involved 9J-KDK, piloted by Chief Pilot Zacharia Mbewe, with Timothy Gibbs as co-pilot. The aircraft departed from the HeadOffice in Ndola for Kitwe Playing Fields, where the patient was received by the ZFDS medical evacuation team.

At the HeadOffice in Ndola , a second aircraft, 9J-FDS, a Cessna Caravan, was already on standby to continue the evacuation to Lusaka. The aircraft was flown by Captain Chanda Mumpangwe and Captain Siphosami Zulu, allowing the transfer to continue seamlessly.

The aircraft landed at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport ZAF Base, where a University Teaching Hospital ambulance was waiting to transport the patient to UTH for continued specialised care.

The coordinated operation demonstrates the critical role of aeromedical evacuation in connecting patients with serious injuries to specialised healthcare services, particularly where long-distance road transportation may present additional challenges or risks.

ZFDS remains committed to providing timely aeromedical support and connecting patients from across Zambia to specialised health facilities when the need arises.