Rose* is a 6 year old girl who was brutally raped by a neighbor from her village in rural Wajir, Northern Kenya. The impact of the attack on Rose and her family has been huge. Rose has received limited medical treatment through the efforts of the Coalition on Violence Against Women (COVAW).

Rose had initially been assessed by a doctor on the ground at Wajir. However, given the remoteness of the area she lives in, and the fact that there is no counselor or gynecologist available for her, she was unable to access the appropriate medical treatment. This would have been necessary both for her own well being, and for the purpose of gathering evidence for the subsequent court case against her attacker.

FDSA contacted COVAW with a proposal to carry out a free charity evacuation of Rose to Nairobi Womens Hospital in Nairobi, which was done on the weekend of 16th and 17th November 2013. FDSA partnered with the Emergency Medical Services of the Kenya Red Cross to carry out the evacuation by road ambulance. The evacuation was successful and Rose was admitted at Nairobi Womens Hospital where she had access to counseling and professional gynecological care that she would not have had in Wajir.

FDSA works hard to ensure people all over East Africa have access to life saving medical attention. Rose’s case is one of others that FDSA exists to assist with. Part of the proceeds from membership subscriptions are used to help people like Rose. Become a member or donate today and help by being part of the solution.

(*Name has been changed to protect her identity)

So many activities take place during Christmas, ranging from church to social outdoor events. More often than not, history always repeats itself and so we keep doing the same things over and over again every Christmas, year in year out. Am not saying that anyone should go against their culture or ignore the practices put down by ones culture and/or community…but hey, why not try out something different this Christmas? A change is as good as a rest, so they say. I have a suggestion, why not toy with the idea of mountain climbing as this is something most of us hardly do. One can decide to go solo or with a group of friends, if you ask me, I prefer the latter as you get to have more fun especially if you are an extroverted kind of person.

So you may wonder and ask yourself which mountain in East Africa to climb! Without a doubt, Mount Kilimanjaro is the most climbed mountain in East Africa. What people don’t know is that there are also other mountains to explore, say Mount Kenya. Mount Kenya is one mountain one can never regret having climbed especially with its scenery which is very spectacular to say the least. Despite the fatigue and all other things that come with it, one gets to enjoy so many things while climbing this particular mountain.

Before proceeding with your adventure, you may want to get a travel cover for yourself which will ensure that the best first aid is administered to you and that you are airlifted to a hospital in case of any impromptu accidents. The Flying Doctors Society of Africa (FDSA) provides you with this travel cover. So please sign up for our travel cover and let us deal with the unexpected. Happy travels! Happy Holidays!

In most cases, December holidays see families and communities coming together and so a lot of traveling and even touring is involved. Hoping the cold season will make way for the warm season (we all want the heat creeping back into our bones), it’s time to stop this nesting and cocooning businesses, and get out there to discover new holiday destinations and festivals within East Africa during the coming December holidays.

While doing your December travels within East Africa, why not get a travel cover for yourself hence be assured that your life will be saved in case you got involved in any kind of accident. Not that this is something one should anticipate for, but then again, you never know when lightning may strike. Become a member of the Flying Doctors Society of Africa, who ensure you get to a well equipped hospital fast and also provide you with expert care in transit which could mean the difference between life and death. As a member of the Flying Doctors Society of Africa you are entitled to one free evacuation per year in case of a life threatening emergency that would necessitate the use of the flying doctors to transport you to a medical facility in Nairobi.

On 19/03/12 1000hrs, a distress call was made to AMREF Flying Doctors Service emergency Control room from a Nurse at Illeret health centre Turkana that there was a patient who had been assaulted by a crocodile. He had sustained fractures on the left leg and left side of the body. Illeret is located on the shores of the Lake Turkana inhabited by the Turkana people. The land is communally owned in form of government trust lands. Due to lack of rains in the area, the Turkana people are subjected to poverty and thus the community risk their lives in trying to fend for food.

On this fateful day, Hille Nyatike was out fishing in the cold waters of the Lake Turkana at 0300hrs when he was attacked by a crocodile. Nyatike bravely tried to fight back by stabbing the crocodile’s eyes but unfortunately he was unsuccessful. He was saved by the quick action of his friend. Had Hille’s friends not acted quickly, he would have forever sunk in the Crocodile’s abyss in the cold dark waters of the Lake Turkana. Hille survived the crocodiles bite but needed urgent medical attention otherwise the bacteria in the animals filthy teeth would surely kill him.

On arrival at Illeret, we found a team already waiting with the patient seated at the back of a pick up truck. He had bled significantly and looked dehydrated. He was given pain medication with the help of the curious onlookers who assisted us get him out of the truck to a vacuum mattress on the aircraft stretcher. His limb was then immobilised, ensuring there was no bleeding from the wounds.

The plane took off for Wamba which is one hour and twenty minutes from Illeret. The patient was stabilized with IV fluids to control his pain. Finally, we landed in Wamba and took the patient to the hospital. Later the plane took off for base at Nairobi Wilson airport and landed at 5pm a day’s work successfully accomplished.

On a follow up call to Wamba hospital the X-rays showed no limb fracture but a dislocation of the left knee for which a cast was put in place. He was put on antibiotics and dressing of the wounds done aseptically once every day. He however tested positive for Malaria. He was treated with quinine and has since recovered. We are glad that finally one more life had been snatched from the Crocodile’s teeth and kept alive.

For more information on charity evacuations click here