Vusumuzi DubeBy Sikhumbuzo Moyo [email protected]
A CRITICALLY injured knife stab victim was airlifted yesterday afternoon by a Helidrive Zimbabwe helicopter from Tsholotsho District Hospital to the United Bulawayo Hospital (UBH), where he is receiving treatment from an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist.
The man, whose identity could not be disclosed by Tsholotsho District Medical Officer Dr Mbonisi Nyathi for ethical reasons, was referred from Pumula Mission in the same district with a deep knife wound on his neck.
“He is a male adult, aged 35 years. He was referred from Pumula Mission with a deep knife wound to the anterior aspect of his neck. He was flown to UBH and is under the care of an ENT specialist,” said Dr Nyathi.
This marks the first airlift of a patient from Matabeleland North by a Helidrive helicopter and the second such case in the region this month. Earlier, four-and-a-half-year-old Tatenda Machezera from Bulawayo was airlifted for specialist treatment at Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare.
The helicopter, which functions as a flying intensive care unit, is one of two air medical rescue service ambulances stationed at UBH. These ambulances provide swift medical responses for emergencies, such as critically injured road accident victims. They are also used to transport patients from remote areas that would otherwise take hours to reach by road.
Bongani Ndlovu