Online Reporter
Trish Mukwazo, [email protected]
A CRITICALLY ill 11-year-old boy was airlifted today by Helidrive Zimbabwe helicopter from Filabusi Hospital to the United Bulawayo Hospital (UBH), where he is currently admitted at the ICU department and is receiving treatment.
The doctor who was in charge Dr Rudo Gumbo, said the learner was noted to be very ill at school on Thursday, resulting in his parents being called and they fetched him, initially taking them to prophets for prayers.
“However, the learner wasn’t responding. Today, the parents took the learner to the hospital in Filabusi, where the doctor noted that he was in a critical condition and called for transfer to a facility with intensive care management,” she said.
She said they were called to assist with the transfer and it took them about 20 minutes to transport the patient from Filabusi to UBH.
“Upon arrival, we ensured the learner was taken to the ICU unit and handed over to the anesthetist and pediatricians for further management. The child is in a very critical condition, requiring close monitoring and care,” she said.
The Second Republic under the stewardship of President Mnangagwa is modernising the health sector as part of deliberate efforts to create a modern, prosperous, and highly industrialised country by 2030.
In June last year, the President was in Russia where he scouted for investors to help set up the air ambulances rescue service.
Russian Helidrive Air Ambulance swiftly responded, bringing in expertise to set up a highly efficient emergency medical service
Helidrive Zimbabwe has recruited and trained 40 local pilots, 50 doctors, 100 nurses, 100 dispatchers and 10 engineers to operate and manage the new service.
Air ambulances play a vital role in transporting patients requiring higher levels of medical care or those unable to travel by road due to their condition.
