- Title: ZAMBIA: THE FLYING DOCTOR SERVICE -- AIRBORNE MEDICAL AID
- Date: 11th December 1968
- Summary: FLYING DOCTOR OPERATION FROM NDOLA TO MOFU; PATIENT CARRIED BACK TO BASE IN AIRCRAFT. Initials DHC/VS/MR/GJB Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 10th December 2016 10:09
- Keywords:
- Location: NDOLA AND MOFU, ZAMBIA
- Country: Zambia
- Reuters ID: LVAA929HBLREM1SJ90R6CD9DZVFI
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: THE ZAMBIAN FLYING DOCTOR SERVICE, ESTABLISHED LESS THAN FOUR YEARS AGO, IS ALREADY PLAYING AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE COUNTRY'S REMOTE AREAS, PROVIDING MEDICAL AID AND ADVISING ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT. THE FIRST PATIENT WAS TREATED IN JULY 1965, AND THE SERVICE NOW BOASTS FOUR AIRCRAFT AND NINE MEDICAL CLINICS.
IN A RECENT OPERATION THE SERVICE WAS RADIOED AT NDOLA, FROM ITS BASE IN MOFU. A CASE OF TUBERCULOUS LEPROSY HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED, AND THE PATIENT NEEDED URGENT HOSPITALISATION. WITHIN MINUTES THE SERVICE'S TWIN-ENGINED AIRCRAFT HAD LEFT THE AIR-STRIP AT NDOLA AND WAS ON ITS WAY TO MOFU PROGRESS REPORTS ON THE PATIENT'S CONDITION WERE GIVEN OVER THE AIRCRAFT RADIO.
AT THE MOFU CLINIC THE TRAVELLING DOCTOR WAS ABLE TO EXAMINE THE PATIENT AND RECOMMEND HIS RETURN TO HOSPITAL IN NDOLA.
THE POPULATION DENSITY OF ZAMBIA IS EXTREMELY LOW -- ONLY 12 TO THE SQUARE MILE ON AVERAGE. COMMUNICATIONS ARE BAD, AND SOME AREAS ARE MORE THAN 100 MILES FROM THE NEAREST LANDROVER TRACK. DOCTORS AND NURSES IN THE SERVICE ARE OFTEN EXPECTED TO HELP WITH SURVEY WORK ON A NEW AIRSTRIP, OR TO ADVISE ON MATTERS OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT. THEY ARE EXPECTED TO ENCOURAGE ANY PROJECT THAT MIGHT RAISE THE STANDARD OF LIVING OF PATIENTS IN THEIR TERRITORY.
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