Four (4) former miners from Mufulira District in Copperbelt Province have been evacuated by air by Zambia Flying Doctor Service (ZFDS) to Lusaka for specialist treatment.

The men, aged between 40 and 80, all suffer from pneumoconiosis—a chronic lung disease believed to be caused by prolonged exposure to dust in mining environments.

Their condition has deteriorated to the point where they now require constant oxygen support.

The evacuation operation done this morning ,22nd January 2026 involved a road ambulance, a helicopter, and a fixed-wing aircraft, all coordinated by ZFDS.

The ZFDS helicopter departed Ndola at 09:34 and landed in Mufulira at 09:55.

After picking up the first two patients, the helicopter departed Mufulira and landed at the Zambia Air Force base at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka at 11:53.

Senior Pilot Zachariah Mbewe and Co-Pilot Timothy Gibbs flew the helicopter, while medical personnel Dr. Bridget Zulu and Philip Besa provided medical care during the flight.

The remaining two patients were transported by road ambulance from Mufulira to ZFDS Headquarters in Ndola, where they boarded a ZFDS Caravan aircraft.

The plane was airborne at 11:09 and landed in Lusaka at 12:09.

Director of Aviation Services Lasford Manchisi and Co-Pilot Wael Daubouky piloted the aircraft, while paramedics Susan Banda and Sampa Chibwe monitored the patients and administered oxygen throughout the journey.

All four men were transferred to the International Hospital of Zambia for ongoing specialist care.

The evacuation was carried out under a memorandum of understanding between ZFDS and the Workers' Compensation Fund Control Board, which supports beneficiaries suffering from occupational illnesses.

The operation marks the first time four patients have been evacuated simultaneously under the current arrangement,demonstrating the expanding role of air medical services in providing urgent access to specialist care for workers with occupational diseases.