dyton mupawaenda
Walter Nyamukondiwa-Mashonaland West Bureau Chief
Nothing could have prepared Dr Dmitriy Seniuta for life in Zimbabwe as one of the pioneering air medical doctors saving lives through helicopter evacuations, on-board intensive care and imparting skills to local health workers.
From contrasting climatic conditions, verdant flora and abundant wildlife to a different treatment doctrine and protocol, Dr Seniuta has had to live through it all.
Being the HeliDrive Zimbabwe Chief Air Medical Doctor has exposed Dr Seniuta to Zimbabwe’s healthcare system, given him a chance to contribute to its transformation.
HeliDrive Zimbabwe, is an air ambulance service being spearheaded by the Government, offering free air transfers for critical patients to major health centres across the country.
It also provides on-board high quality intensive care to improve access to critical medical care, which often makes the difference between survival and death in cases such as road accidents and other emergencies.
Conviction and dedication to saving lives has been Dr Seniuta’s morning alarm each day as he prepares for air rescue missions across the country.
“I wake up early, take a shower, and have breakfast. At the same time, we find out if anyone needs medical evacuation by helicopter,” said Dr Seniuta.
“If so, we prepare the helicopter for take-off and go to pick up the patient. If no flight is planned, we make training and theoretical classes with the medical staff, check the equipment, or discuss various medical cases.”
Visiting district hospitals feeding the main health centre where the helicopter is stationed to meet doctors and explain the helicopter service was one of his earliest tasks. It also involved assessing whether they could fly to those hospitals and evaluate rescue operations undertaken to establish if the best strategies had been applied.
“Additionally, my tasks included visiting district hospitals around the helicopter’s base city to inform doctors about our service, answer their questions, and assess if we can perform flights to these hospitals,” he said.
“Such trips usually took the whole day and once a week, we made a general evening meeting online to discuss medical cases and determine whether the optimal strategy was applied.”
With their characteristic yellow and red strip, the helicopters have been a lifeline for those airlifted and taken to major referral centres for specialised care and drawn crowds wherever they land.
The helicopters, which make at least three landings at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital from the various district health centres in Mashonaland West Province have attracted large crowds of people, enjoying the spectacle and what it means for a critical patient.
“We are grateful that the service has been made free, giving people with critical conditions a chance to live,” said Mrs Tanaka Serimwe after arrival of the helicopter with a patient from Chegutu District Hospital.
“We see the strides we are making as a country in improving our health services and we know that it can only get better going forward.”
People’s reactions and Dr Seniuta’s interactions with local health staff have melted his heart and given him strength to continue.
“The reactions of people have been varied. Medical staff did not believe that the helicopter would come and take a patient free of charge,” he said.
“Patients, if they could speak, were very grateful. Ordinary citizens were happy that the helicopter had arrived. Usually, everything was good and friendly.”
Dr Seniuta’s early days were understandably less comfortable as he had to adjust to the high temperatures in Zimbabwe that contrast sharply with his native Russia.
From long and cold winters to the relatively warm weather conditions of Zimbabwe, the change was drastic.
“Your winter is much warmer than our summer,” said Dr Seniuta.
The country has been a revelation and novel experience for the Russian doctor who has provided intensive care services for more than 20 years.
It was his first time travelling to Africa and Dr Seniuta has been awe-struck with its beauty.
“The highlight is the country itself. I had never travelled to the southern part of Africa before or worked in another country.
“Zimbabwe has a completely different nature, with animals that are not found in Russia. It is beautiful and unusual,” he said.
The country’s healthcare system provided another poser for the flying ICU doctor.
“The second difficulty is the healthcare system. It is very different from what I am used to. I had to adapt and adjust my skills to your medical system,” said Dr Seniuta.
For context, in Russia Dr Seniuta is authorised to perform any procedures that he sees fit to save life but needs to coordinate with an ICU doctor at the receiving health centre during an evacuation and transfer.
“As I mentioned, the differences between the healthcare systems in Russia and Africa are huge. For example, in Russia, I can perform any procedures I deem necessary to save a patient. Only I decide what and when to do,” he said.
“In Zimbabwe, I need to coordinate this with the ICU doctor at the receiving hospital, find out if there are available beds and staff to work with ICU patients.”
Dr Seniuta said while the air ambulance service has been fully established, there was need for a central call centre to receive emergencies from citizens.
This allows for prompt reaction in emergency cases like accidents.
“Another problem is that there is no central call centre in Zimbabwe for receiving emergency calls from ordinary citizens. Because of this, we cannot get information about incidents, such as traffic accidents, to send a helicopter there,” he said.
“A call centre is necessary for more successful operations. We are working on its establishment together with the Ministry of Health.
Zimbabwe recently had an accident in Beitbridge, which claimed the lives of 26 people but victims could not be airlifted. Dr Seniuta commended the professionalism of doctors and nurses that he works with.
“They know a lot and have many skills. They quickly and easily remember everything we teach them. I have gained a very interesting experience in communicating with colleagues,” he noted.
He has treated different cases involving ICU patients for more than 20 years and has taken the experience in his stride and believes he is operating with the knowledge gained over the years.
To him, nothing is a miracle but a manifestation of skills and knowledge gained over time.
“During this time, I have treated a huge number of patients in critical condition, so I have simply stopped remembering them. Moreover, I would not call my work a miracle.
“It is the knowledge, practice and experience of both myself and my Zimbabwean colleagues.
“We have studied and practiced for a long time for this. A miracle is something that happens on its own, without our involvement,” he contends.
In the near future, he said, medical helicopters would operate throughout Zimbabwe and provide a service wherever a disaster occurs.
Like a clock, Dr Seniuta works everyday.
The major health challenges attended to since inception of the air medical services have been injured patients or those with pregnancy and childbirth complications.
“Our helicopters are equipped with everything necessary to work with any patients, from newborns to adults. Our helicopter is like an intensive care unit of a hospital, but with an engine and rotor,” quipped Dr Seniuta.
“We work year-round, everyday. If the weather conditions allow the helicopter to fly, we will go for the patient even during holidays and weekends.”
For the transformation of Zimbabwe’s healthcare service, he has endured unfamiliar weather and met new people who have shown him the beautiful side of Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter