Online Reporter
Trust Freddy
Herald Correspondent
THE partnership between Zimbabwe and Russia on a national (HeliDrive) air ambulance service has been described as resounding success by medical professionals and pilots from both countries as cooperation continues to bear fruit.
The collaboration, which has seen Russian-made Ansat and Mi-17 helicopters deployed to respond to emergencies, has saved over 800 lives since its launch in August last year.
Local doctors have mastered complex procedures, including mid-air deliveries, while Russian experts have gained valuable experience in treating tropical diseases like malaria.
Chief pilot Aleksander Rusanov, assisting local pilots, praised the synergy said, “Our team is happy to help the people of Zimbabwe. We can carry patients in critical condition from the countryside to well-equipped hospitals and we plan to cover the entire territory of Zimbabwe, linking remote regions.”
Russian anesthesiologist Ekaterina Balandina also weighed in, saying that the cooperation is mutually beneficial.
“I really like working with Zimbabwean doctors because we can share our experience,” she said.
“Actually, in Russia, for example, we don’t have malaria, so there’s a part where we can learn from Zimbabwean doctors and we can teach them how to work in a helicopter, because working in a helicopter is a bit different from working in a hospital.
“For instance, we have limited space, vibrations, and noise. So, it’s a bit different. And I really enjoy this job and communicating with our Zimbabwean doctors.”
She also recounted a case of successfully airlifting a six-year-old girl with cerebral malaria for treatment, which she had treated for the first time.
“So, we had a case of a six-year-old girl who was really sick. She had cerebral malaria, and she was unconscious. Unfortunately, we needed to intubate her and start ventilating to help her lungs work properly until we got to Sally Mugabe Hospital.
“The following day, we received good news that the doctors could extubate her. And the next day, she was transferred from the ICU ward to a normal ward, and then she was discharged home. I was excited that I managed to save a life.”
The Russian doctor, who has been in the country since March this year also revealed that she has fallen in love with Zimbabwe’s weather.
“I like Zimbabwe, I like the sun because in Russia we have, I think, more than half a year of winter and grey, grey weather.”
Dr Benson Dandira, a local doctor working with the Russians, said: “The experience has been exciting, and we’ve taken every opportunity to learn something new.
“We didn’t have this service before, so we had to learn how to handle it. We’ve had training on helicopter critical care, and the experience has been good. The exchange has been an eye-opener, highlighting areas where we can improve. We’ve also been able to share our local innovations and teach them about conditions they may not typically encounter.”
Zimbabwean pilot Mr Lesley Makoni, who previously served in the Air Force, expressed his satisfaction with his current role, commending the Russians for bringing new expertise.
“They have more experience with these helicopter types. We, the local pilots, were trained on different helicopters, so they had to train us on this one. We’re working very well together, combining their experience with the machines and our local knowledge of the country. So, we work well in the sense that I know the exact places we’re going, and he uses his experience with the machine.”
Having previously served in the Air Force, he said, “I left the Air Force many years ago. I flew in the industry, and now I’m flying for HeliDrive. It’s given me immense pleasure to be involved in saving lives. After the training, I was eager to become operational, and thankfully, with God’s grace, we managed to get fully trained and became operational.”
The Air Ambulance has been expanding its reach to new and previously hard-to-access areas, ensuring that no community is left behind.
The service was launched through a partnership with Russia’s HeliDrive Air Medical Services.
The initiative is a critical step in President Mnangagwa’s efforts to modernise Zimbabwe’s healthcare system and improve access to specialised medical care, particularly given the high number of road traffic accidents.
