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Raymond Jaravaza/Ashley Phiri/Ronald Mpofu, Chronicle Writers

HELIDRIVE Zimbabwe, the intensive care unit air ambulance, continues to improve the country’s health care delivery system by offering quick and life-saving services through airlifting critical patients from smaller medical facilities in the Matabeleland region to referral hospitals such as Mpilo Central Hospital and the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) in Bulawayo.

The air ambulance services are free of charge and are available to critically ill patients that include road traffic accident victims, patients in need of specialist services at bigger and better equipped hospitals as well as victims of violent crimes such as stabbings.

On Tuesday, residents of Plumtree were taken aback by the whirring rotor blades of an ANSAT helicopter as it landed in an open space at the Plumtree District Hospital to pick up a two-year-old boy in urgent need of specialist health services in Bulawayo.

HeliDrive Zimbabwe carries one adult patient but in the case of a critically ill minor, the parent or guardian is allowed to join the helicopter crew.

Plumtree’s district medical officer, Mr Joe Nganunu, said the medical institution summoned HeliDrive Zimbabwe to airlift the toddler after he started experiencing breathing complications.

“On February 4, we requested the services of HeliDrive Zimbabwe to airlift a two-year-old who was having breathing difficulties as he required immediate intensive care,” he said.

“The helicopter arrived shortly after we made the request and the boy, together with his mother, were airlifted to United Bulawayo Hospitals,” said Mr Nganunu.

Chronicle yesterday caught up with the boy’s mother Miss Moreblessing Ndlovu (29) from Solwezi village in Plumtree, Matabeleland South Province, who expressed her gratitude to the prompt services of HeliDrive Zimbabwe which she said saved her child’s life. She described the ride in the air ambulance as smooth.

“When the staff at Plumtree Hospital told me that my son would be transported to Bulawayo, I had a lot of questions running through my mind,” she said. 

Emergency response team that saved a 2-year-old boy’s life after airway obstruction diagnosis at Plumtree District Hospital

“I was scared at the idea of flying in a helicopter but also happy that my son was going to get specialist services at UBH,” said Ms Ndlovu.

“My child was getting worse with each passing minute and I knew that his best chance of staying alive was a quick transfer to Bulawayo.”

She said when the helicopter’s engines roared to life, she was compounded by a mixture of both dread and hope.

As the helicopter ascended into the sky and the world below them started to shrink, Ms Ndlovu stayed focused on her son and kept praying for divine intervention to save his life.

“I was a bit scared when the helicopter started drifting into the air but the ride was smooth and incredibly fast. Before I knew it, we were at UBH,” she said. 

“During the flight my son received medical attention as the crew constantly checked his condition and gave me assurances that he would be okay,.

Moreblessing Ndlovu mother of a 2 year old child who was saved by Airlifting emergency services from Plumtree Hospital

The boy is in a stable condition. Ms Ndlovu expressed her gratitude to the Government for the lifesaving medical services.

“My son would probably not have made it to UBH if he had been transported by road. I am grateful to the Government for such a service that is assisting villagers from places as far as Solwezi in Plumtree to access better medical services,” she said.

In a separate case, a suspected illegal gold miner was also airlifted to Esigodini District Hospital on Wednesday after being struck multiple times with a machete. Unfortunately he died hours after being admitted to UBH. 

Hospital officials said the man, believed to be in his early 20s, succumbed to the injuries hours after being admitted. UBH clinical director Dr William Busumani said the identity of the deceased could not be disclosed as his relatives were yet to be notified.

There are two air medical rescue service ambulances that are stationed at UBH to offer swift medical responses especially to patients from hard-to-reach areas.

If the air ambulance is summoned to an area where there is no helipad, the pilots use their discretion to land in an open space such as a sports field.

In the last few weeks HeliDrive Zimbabwe has airlifted patients from hard to reach places such as Tsholotsho, Nkayi and Bubi, among others.