Walter Nyamukondiwa
Mashonaland West Bureau Chief
The National Air Ambulance Service, Heli-Drive, has achieved a 1 000-flights milestone, a year into full-scale operations, signifying improved access to tertiary healthcare in emergency cases for people in outlying and hard to reach areas.
Zimbabwe received a fleet of 18 Russian-made Ansat and Mi-17 helicopters in 2023 in a deal initiated by President Mnangagwa to ensure that patients in the public health system have access to top-class medical care.
To date, 1 041 patients have been airlifted, with the number increasing each day as hardly a day passes without the Heli-Drive team responding to an emergency.
In a display of the significance of the air ambulance service, a fisherman from Kariba’s King’s Camp, survived an elephant attack after being airlifted from the border town for specialised care at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital in Harare.
This is one of many airlifts that have saved lives of people whose conditions could otherwise have deteriorated, leading to complications or death.
Heli-Drive chief medical director, Dr Freddy Mhondiwa, said serving for a year was inspiring.
“Reaching the 1 000-flight milestone is a proud and humbling moment for the National Air Ambulance Service,” he said.
“It represents not just numbers, but thousands of lives touched across the country through faster access to emergency medical care.
“Since our launch in Harare (last year), we have successfully expanded operations to Bulawayo and extended coverage to Victoria Falls, enabling rapid response across vast and often hard-to-reach areas.”
The mission has been growing with a target to ensure coverage of most parts of the country, said Dr Mhondiwa.
“Our goal has always been to bridge the gap between remote communities and tertiary hospitals — ensuring that distance and terrain are no longer barriers to timely care,” he said.
The air transfer service will expand to Mutare before year end, further widening national coverage.
Dr Mhondiwa explained that each expansion reflects their ongoing commitment to equitable healthcare access, patient safety and collaboration with provincial hospitals, emergency services and the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
Dedication and professionalism have been the hallmark of the National Air Ambulance Service in the past year.
Dr Mhondiwa commended the dedicated flight and medical teams for their professionalism and compassion in every mission.
He also thanked their partners and the public for the continued trust and support that make this life-saving service possible.
Through multi-stakeholder support, Zimbabwe is on course to building a stronger, more responsive emergency medical system.
Paediatric and neonatal conditions have accounted for about 35 percent of airlifts during the past year, while maternity-related transfers accounted for 11 percent of cases.
Adult cases form the majority of airlifted patients.
There were nearly as many men as women transferred during the period.
Dr Mhondiwa said prompt coordination with stakeholders, including local authorities and the team has helped to save lives.
“A fisherman was attacked by an elephant in Kariba and sustained serious injuries. The National Air Ambulance Service swiftly responded to the emergency, airlifting the victim to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital for urgent surgical intervention.
“The prompt coordination between local authorities and the air ambulance team ensured the patient received critical care within hours of the incident,” he said.
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