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)

FDSA and OWIT joined forces to set up a Movie Night to raise funds to help fight Fistula in Kenya. This is done by funding a Medical Outreach programme that identifies gaps in health care systems and develops methods and intervention to support hospitals through pre-planned visits by specialists, who provide expert advice, services and training of professional health workers. Of particular interest to FDSA and OWIT is the area of Obstetric Fistula.

To help raise funds toward this cause, FDSA and OWIT held a Movie Night on 30th November 2012. This is the second event that FDSA and OWIT have put together in the past. Although there were weather and transport issues on the day of the showing, the event managed to collect a net contributed income of KShs. 454,350.

FDSA would like to thank all the individuals who bought tickets or attended the movie. FDSA would also like to thank our sponsors; OWIT, Consolidated Bank, Citi Bank, Genesis Investments and the Awendo Foundation for their support. A big thank you to our members as well who, through their membership, contribute greatly towards the Outreach Program as well. 

This Festive season, we are offering a special discount to all our members and clients. If you purchase any new annual or short stay membership between the 1^st and 31^st of December 2012, we are offering you a 10% discount on the subscription!

You cannot afford to be without Flying Doctors cover this festive season. No matter where you travel to, whether to visit your relatives up country, or going on holiday with family and friends, you need this cover. Many who live in East Africa wonder if they will ever need to be airlifted. The truth is, you never know when you will need the service, and for a cost starting at KShs. 1,500, you can avoid the hassle of trying to raise over KShs. 500,000 on short notice for an evacuation expense.

Get your membership today!

Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) refers to an abnormal fistulous tract extending between the bladder and the vagina (a hole develops between the two organs) that allows the continuous involuntary discharge of urine into the vaginal vault. This condition is easily preventable and treatable but awareness is low.Funds got from this movie will go towards funding the VVF campaigns.

Watch the preview below to get an idea of what the movie is about. Come and have a great time and contribute for a good cause

Planning an African safari is not an easy thing (at least not for me) and so, one might find themselves between a rock and a hard place especially if it involves two or more countries. For instance, let’s say you want to do a safari that involves visiting destinations that are located in two different countries say Kenya and Tanzania-am using these two countries as an example since they are the ones I have managed to tour in a single safari. Well, why not look for safari tours that visit both Kenya and Tanzania? This way, you will be able to kill many birds with a single stone! Plus, you are sure to find not only an ideal safari, but also that which will not exert too much weight on your wallet.

There are so many things one can enjoy while exploring Kenya and Tanzania. Usually, rather in my case, the safari departed Nairobi and the first stop was at the Masai Mara National reserve, commonly known to the locals as “The Mara”. In all honesty, I was amazed by this particular place-never knew it was such an intriguing place to be at. Just a sneak peek, Masai Mara is a large game reserve in South-Western Kenya which is marked by circles of trees, cloud shadows, savannas and scrubs. Here is where you will get a chance to witness the annual migration of wildebeest, zebra and Thomson’s gazelle which normally takes place between the months of July and October. I put it to you that this particular place is worth visiting, so why not mark it in your calendar and give it a try!

The next destination after Masai Mara was Lake Nakuru National Park then Amboseli National Park and finally Tanzania. The places I would recommend you visit in Tanzania are: Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro crater which is full of wildlife. Did I mention that I had a bird’s eye-view of Mount Kilimanjaro’s snowy peaks? Oh yes I did, and it was spectacular! Guess if am to visit Tanzania again, then Mount Kilimanjaro would be my first destination.

Finally, we all need travel covers…just to be on the safe side while doing our travels. Flying Doctors Society of Africa provides you with this. Please click here to see the various membership packages.

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