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We come to your rescue!
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The Flying Doctors’ Society of Africa
This is a fleet of aircraft and ground
ambulances and a 24-hour emergency communication and response centre. This was
founded in 1970, to finance the work of the Flying Doctor Service (FDS), one of
AMREF’S oldest programmes which offers medical services to critically ill
patients, injured person’s from road accidents, war
and violence inflicted injuries, infectious diseases in remote areas. Most of
its services are done in East Africa and the neighbouring countries like Rwanda, Ethiopia,
Burundi and Somali.
With an experience of four decades the
(FDS) carry out up to 500 evacuations each year, some dramatic, other critical.
Their medical radio network links over 120 stations in
East Africa. These radios are
supplemented by three direct emergency telephone and fax lines, and a satellite
telefax manned 24 hours. When there is an emergency, the (FDS) ground
ambulances will be on standby to transfer the patients immediately on arrival
at Wilson Airport, to a hospital in Nairobi where arrangements will have been made by the Emergency Response
personnel for a bed and doctor to receive the patient.
Incase of serious illness or injury,
weather and political conditions permitting, the (FDS) provide their members
with air transport to the nearest suitable medical centre, usually in Nairobi.
Those who are members are offered one free emergency medical evacuation flight
per year. Corporate members obtain 30% discount on all evacuation flights upto
500km or 1000km depending on the distance they are covered for. If members do
not use the service during the term of membership, their subscription fees are
expended in the provision of medical and health care services for the poor in
remote parts of East Africa.
In addition, the (FDS)
provide specialized reconstructive surgery to patients disfigured through burns,
accidents, mauling, leprosy etc. They also provide free information on vaccines,
free medical advice, and free referral services. It is good to join them and
help the less privileged receive medical and health care services.
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