Flight of life: A journalist’s journey with air ambulance services

Source: The Herald – Breaking news.

 

With precision and care, a team of medical personnel from Concession General Hospital gently transfers an expecting mother, Abigail Kajoto, into the air ambulance at Kundayi High School, with the help of the air ambulance team. – Pictures: Emmanuel Kafe.

Emmanuel Kafe

AS rotor blades of the ANSAT Z-WUI air ambulance whirred to life and turned above my head, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and trepidation.

I was aboard the helicopter, a flying intensive care unit, with two seasoned pilots, Ivan Glazyrin and Vadim Vagapov, plus Dr Evgenii Kibakin, ready to embark on a critical mission: Airlifting a patient from Concession, about 55km from Harare.

The  27-year-old pregnant woman, Abigail Kajoto, was in a critical state.

Our departure from the Sally Mugabe Central Hospital helipad at exactly 1.41pm marked the beginning of a race against time, the “golden hour” that could make the difference between life and death.

I had received a call from The Herald’s deputy news editor, Kudakwashe Mugari, while having lunch that I had to fly to Concession in 15 minutes. I didn’t ask much but dashed downstairs where he quickly drove me to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, sometimes dangerously, while constantly urging the helicopter team to wait for us so we could travel for the story.

We arrived at Sally Mugabe Hospital two minutes late, but the helicopter was waiting for us.

Ordered Mugari: “Go and have a descriptive story of your experience and the golden hour.”

The helicopter lifted off, soaring into the blue sky, leaving the urban bustle of Harare behind.

Below us, the sprawling landscape became a patchwork of green and brown, dotted with the occasional glint of water.

As we ascended, I could see the winding roads that connect communities, a reminder of the isolation some faced in emergencies.

In the cockpit, the pilots communicated seamlessly, their focus unwavering.

Dr Evgenii Kibakin, the physician on board, prepared his equipment.

Every detail mattered in this high-stakes environment and there was no room for error.

He checked the vital signs monitor, ensuring everything was operational.

I watched as he meticulously arranged his medical supplies, readying himself for the patient we were about to meet.

We touched down at Kundayi High School in Concession at 2.05pm, where an ambulance from Concession General Hospital awaited us.

Our journey took exactly 24 minutes from the capital to this area.

The urgency of the situation was palpable as we disembarked.

Dr Evgenii Kibakin tends to Abigail Kajoto as she is airlifted to Harare after suffering acute psychosis during pregnancy in Concession

Standing by the ambulance was Matron Chipo Munemo, Sister Lisa John and Mr Tatenda Mugavazi, who briefed Dr Kibakin on the condition of the patient.

In medical terms, she was a “para 2 gravida 3 EGA 26/40” patient – information that sounded foreign yet conveyed the gravity of her situation.

Abigail lay unconscious on a stretcher, her face pale and drawn.

The team from Concession General Hospital worked swiftly, transferring her to the helicopter.

Dr Kibakin wasted no time; he began to assess her condition, checking her pulse and breathing.

With each passing second, the weight of responsibility hung thick in the air.

At 2.21pm, we took off again, the helicopter’s blades slicing through the air with renewed urgency.

The interior was filled with the rhythmic beeping of the vital signs monitor, a constant reminder of Abigail’s fragile state.

The doctor spoke calmly to his team, performing all necessary interventions.

He monitored the patient, explaining each step to me as he went along.

“At least she has normal blood pressure, despite being unconscious. She is mentally unstable and has suffered a shoulder injury,” he remarked, adjusting her on a stretcher mate.

I watched in awe as he maintained a steady focus, his hands deftly working while he monitored the readings on the monitor.

The helicopter’s turbulence seemed insignificant compared to the storm of emotions swirling within me.

Here was a life hanging in the balance, and I was witnessing the frontline of emergency care.

The trip back to Harare was way faster, taking us exactly 17 minutes.

At 2.38pm, we landed at Blakiston Primary School in Harare, across the road to the west from Parirenyatwa Hospital grounds, where two paramedics, Golden John and Peter Kusotera, from Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, were on standby.

There is no helipad or obvious open space at Parirenyatwa, so the sports fields of the school on the other side of Leopold Takawira Street, had to be used.

A road ambulance awaited us, ready to ferry Abigail to the emergency and resuscitation centre.

As the paramedics approached, Dr Kibakin relayed critical information about Abigail’s condition, ensuring a seamless transition of care. Abigail was quickly ferried to Parirenyatwa Hospital.

The golden hour may have passed, but the teamwork and expertise displayed during that flight could mean a new beginning for her and the unborn child.

HeliDrive chief medical pilot, Vagapov, said Abigail was the sixth patient to be airlifted this week.

“We also airlifted a one-year-old child who was in critical need of care. I must say work is going on well and we haven’t faced any challenges so far,” he said.

As the helicopter took off again, this time on its return to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, I reflected on the fragility of life and the incredible power of modern medicine.

The experience was a vivid reminder of the challenges and triumphs faced by medical professionals in the field.

I left the air ambulance with a deeper appreciation for the work being done, the lives being saved, and the unwavering spirit of those who choose to step into the skies for the sake of others.

President Mnangagwa and his Government are actively modernising the health sector as part of a strategic initiative to transform Zimbabwe into a prosperous, highly industrialised nation by 2030.

In June, the President travelled to Russia to seek investors for establishing air ambulance services for the public health sector, which means that every Zimbabwean who needs such a service can have it.

Russian HeliDrive Air Ambulance Medical Services quickly responded, arriving in Zimbabwe to assist in developing an efficient air ambulance system staffed by highly skilled medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, engineers, dispatchers, and pilots.

The recruitment and training of local personnel are underway, with the company hiring 40 local pilots, 50 doctors, 100 nurses, 100 dispatchers and 10 engineers.

Air ambulances are crucial for transporting patients from facilities with inadequate care to those offering advanced medical services, or for returning patients home when they cannot travel by commercial flights.

These specialised aircraft are equipped to overcome geographical barriers while delivering the same level of medical care found in intensive care units.

With cutting-edge medical technology and highly trained personnel, air ambulances can manage a wide range of medical emergencies enroute to care facilities.

This unique combination of speed, accessibility, and comprehensive care capabilities makes air ambulances an essential part of emergency medical services worldwide.

Last year, Zimbabwe received 18 brand-new helicopters from Russia, which are playing a vital role in emergency air medical services and law enforcement.

Some helicopters have also been deployed to the tourism sector, enhancing the country’s capacity to respond to road traffic accidents.

These helicopters are set to significantly boost tourism, especially by providing assured healthcare for visitors through emergency air medical services in popular resort areas like Mana Pools and Victoria Falls.