HELIDRIVE National Air Rescue Service helps sick people across Zimbabwe. The program saves lives through a partnership between Zimbabwe and Russia. Since last year, helicopters have carried 485 patients to hospitals. Many came from remote areas where roads are bad and hospitals are far away. About 40 percent were children who needed urgent medical care.
The service reaches patients within one hour. Before HELIDRIVE started, people from places like Binga and Tsholotsho often died because they could not reach doctors fast enough. Bad roads made travel dangerous and slow. The air ambulance changes everything for families who live far from cities.
Dr Major Mhondiwa works with the helicopter team. He says the service helps many people from rural areas. Four children with blood diseases flew to Harare for special treatment. Another patient hurt in a car crash on the main highway also needed quick transport to survive.
The program uses 18 helicopters with six ready to fly at any time. Each helicopter has medical equipment and can travel 180 kilometers from its base. Teams have trained 8 pilots and 32 medical workers at different locations. The government plans to add bases at Masvingo and Victoria Falls soon.
The service reaches patients within one hour. Before HELIDRIVE started, people from places like Binga and Tsholotsho often died because they could not reach doctors fast enough. Bad roads made travel dangerous and slow. The air ambulance changes everything for families who live far from cities.
Dr Major Mhondiwa works with the helicopter team. He says the service helps many people from rural areas. Four children with blood diseases flew to Harare for special treatment. Another patient hurt in a car crash on the main highway also needed quick transport to survive.
The program uses 18 helicopters with six ready to fly at any time. Each helicopter has medical equipment and can travel 180 kilometers from its base. Teams have trained 8 pilots and 32 medical workers at different locations. The government plans to add bases at Masvingo and Victoria Falls soon.
