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29 January 2025

Zambia Flying Doctor Service Expands Reach with First-Ever Medical Helicopter

The Civil Aviation Authority, on 27th January 2025, joined stakeholders in witnessing the unveiling of the first-ever Zambia Flying Doctor Service (ZFDS) helicopter during an event held at the Zambia Air Force Kenneth Kaunda International Airport base in Lusaka.

The helicopter, 9J-KDK, named after the first Patron of the ZFDS and late Republican President Dr Kenneth David Kaunda, is expected to strengthen its capacity to respond to medical emergencies, particularly in areas where roads are inaccessible.

Minister of Transport and Logistics, Honourable Frank Museba Tayali MP, says the helicopter will transform the way the country provides healthcare to people in rural and hard-to-reach areas, describing the milestone as a huge step towards improved healthcare services in the country.

The Minister noted that 58 years after the establishment of ZFDS, the service provider has now acquired its first helicopter, citing this as an example of how politics can be a positive force for progress.

Minister of Transport and Logistics, Honourable Frank Museba Tayali MP

“Our fellow citizens out there in the rural parts are in dire need of health service delivery from their government. The Zambia Flying Doctor Service, therefore, plays a crucial role in bridging the gap in accessing health services by ensuring that those who need the services of the Ministry of Health in far-flung areas, which are not easily accessible, can reach them. This is why I want to join the CEO and the Board Chairperson in your remarks to thank His Excellency, President Hakainde Hichilema, for this milestone we are celebrating today,” Hon Tayali said.

Zambia Flying Doctor Service Board Chairperson, Dr Rosemary Kumwenda, says the acquisition of the helicopter is a milestone in the ongoing recapitalisation effort of the service provider. She said the helicopter will play a pivotal role in the organisation’s mission to provide accessible and quality healthcare to all Zambians.

“This marks a very pivotal moment in our mission to provide accessible and quality healthcare to all Zambians, especially in the most remote corners of the country,” she said.

Zambia Flying Doctor Service Chief Executive Officer, Dr George Ng’uni, thanked the government, the Ministry of Health, the Zambia Air Force, the Civil Aviation Authority, and other government institutions for their support during the process of acquiring the helicopter.

He said the helicopter will help strengthen health service delivery to rural parts of the country, adding that, as the regulatory body, the Civil Aviation Authority played a crucial role in facilitating the clearance of the helicopter into the country.

He said the CAA ensured that the helicopter met international safety and airworthiness standards. Other responsibilities included verifying the helicopter’s registration, airworthiness certificate, and insurance. The CAA Inspectors also conducted inspections to guarantee compliance with local regulations.

The Zambia Flying Doctor Service is a statutory body under the Ministry of Health, established in 1967.

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