The Zambia Flying Doctor Service (ZFDS) has successfully completed two air medical missions today, spanning Northern Province, Lusaka, and the Copperbelt. The operations involved the emergency evacuation of a critically injured patient for specialist treatment and the safe repatriation of a discharged patient back to his home community.

Both missions were carried out by Captain Chanda Mumpangwe and Co-Pilot Elvis Kite, supported by Paramedic Paul Mwewa and Anaesthetist Bupe Musenge, who provided continuous medical care throughout the journeys.

The first mission under the approval from the Ministry of Health involved the emergency evacuation of a 43-year-old male patient from Kasama General Hospital in Northern Province to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka. The patient had sustained a traumatic brain injury complicated by anterior cord syndrome and required specialist care beyond the capacity of the referring facility.

Following a thorough assessment and stabilization by the ZFDS medical team, the patient was safely airlifted to Lusaka. Upon arrival, a ground ambulance facilitated the transfer to UTH, where specialist teams were on standby to continue advanced treatment.

The second mission under the Workers Compensation Fund Control Board involved the repatriation of an elderly male patient from Lusaka to the Copperbelt. The patient had been receiving treatment at international hospital in Lusaka for pneumoconiosis, a chronic occupational lung disease associated with prolonged exposure to mineral dust.

After being declared medically fit for discharge, the patient was airlifted to the Copperbelt, where a road ambulance completed the final leg of the journey to Mufulira, allowing him to reunite safely with his family.

These missions highlight ZFDS’s commitment to ensuring equitable access to healthcare across Zambia and demonstrate the Services ability to deliver timely emergency medical transport and patient repatriation services across vast distances. The seamless coordination between air and ground teams ensured continuity of care from point of referral to final destination.