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Zambia Flying Doctor Service

The Zambia Flying Doctor Service (ZFDS) is a grant-aided service delivery statutory board under the Ministry of Health (MoH) that was created under an Act of Parliament No 37 of 1967 with amendment No 18 of 1972 and repealed by act No 25 of 1975 Chapter 298 of the Laws of Zambia. It was founded by Dr. James Lawless in 1965. The FDS Act provides for the establishment, management and development of the Zambia Flying Doctor Service

Our Mission

To provide cost effective, quality and efficient aero-medical services in remote, rural and hard to reach areas and other parts of the country in order to combat human diseases and save lives

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Latest News

#zambiaflyingdoctorservice, #medicalevacuation, #workerscompensationevacuation

06 February 2026

By Public Relations Team

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The Zambia Flying Doctor Service (ZFDS) today successfully conducted a cross-country medical evacuation and repatriation, deploying both a fixed-wing Caravan aircraft and a helicopter to support two patients with spinal injuries yesterday 5th February,2026.
ZFDS evacuated a paraplegic patient from Kapiri Mposhi to Lusaka for specialised medical care, while repatriating another paraplegic patient to his home in Solwezi following a routine medical review.
The emergency operation was undertaken following a request from the Workers’ Compensation Fund Control Board (WCFCB).
The first patient, a resident of Kapiri Mposhi, required specialised treatment at Lusaka International Hospital. A ZFDS helicopter, registration 9J-KDK, crewed by Senior Pilot Zachariah Mbewe and Co-Pilot Timothy Gibbs, departed Ndola and arrived in Kapiri Mposhi at 09:14 hours. The patient was immediately airlifted to Lusaka.
Upon arrival, the patient was safely handed over to the medical team at Fairview Hospital, Lusaka.
In a parallel operation, ZFDS repatriated a 78-year-old paraplegic patient to his home in Solwezi after completing a routine medical assessment at Fairview Hospital in Lusaka. The patient was transported aboard a ZFDS Caravan aircraft, 9J-AGC, flown by Acting Deputy Director of Aviation Patrick Kawanu with Co-Pilot Wael Donbouky.
ZFDS, in collaboration with the WCFCB, continues to demonstrate its unwavering commitment to ensuring that no Zambian worker is denied access to specialised medical treatment or safe medical repatriation due to distance or logistical challenges.

#zambiaflyingdoctorservice, #medicalevacuations, #workerscompensationevacuation

04 February 2026

By Public Relations Team

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The Zambia Flying Doctor Service (ZFDS) today safely evacuated a patient from Mufulira District in the Copperbelt Province to Fairview Hospital in Lusaka for routine medical assessment.
ZFDS deployed its helicopter, 9J-KDK, crewed by Senior Pilot Zachariah Mbewe and Co-Pilot Timothy Gibbs, to conduct the evacuation.
The aircraft reached Mufulira at 08:06 hours, picked up the patient, and departed for Lusaka. It later touched down at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport at 10:15 hours, where the patient was safely handed over to medical personnel.
Following the successful transfer, the ZFDS crew repatriated three discharged patients from Fairview Hospital back to their homes in Mufulira. The three former mine workers had been admitted to the Lusaka-based facility for routine medical assessments.
All three patients were suffering from pneumoconiosis, an occupational lung disease caused by prolonged inhalation of mineral dust in the mining environment.
Paramedics Susan Banda and Salifyanji Nachamba were on board the aircraft, providing medical assistance throughout the mission.
By 14:03 hours, all three patients were safely handed over to the Workers’ Compensation Fund Control Board (WCFCB) Mufulira Branch Office.
This operation highlights the strengthened collaboration between the Zambia Flying Doctor Service (ZFDS) and the Workers’ Compensation Fund Control Board (WCFCB) in ensuring timely and safe medical transportation for injured and former workers.

#zambiaflyingdoctorservice, #medicalevacuation, #healthcoverageforall

02 February 2026

By Public Relations Team

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The Zambia Flying Doctor Service (ZFDS) executed emergency Aeromedical evacuation to save two nuns left with life-threatening injuries following a head-on collision in Chipata, Eastern Province.

The sisters, aged 61 and 40, were airlifted to Lusaka after the road accident left them with serious injuries.
The evacuation, which took place on Friday, 30th January 2025, was the culmination of a marathon day for the ZFDS crew that saw them traverse the country to bridge the gap between Southern and Eastern province.
The sisters had been receiving treatment at Chipata Central Hospital following the accident crash on 26th January,2026.
However, Senior Medical Superintendent Dr. Mbinga Mbinga determined that their injuries which required intervention beyond the hospital's capacity.
"Both patients required immediate surgical intervention to prevent complications," Dr. Mbinga stated in an urgent request to the Ministry of Health.
The Ministry’s Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, Dr. Kennedy Lishimpi, immediately authorized the ZFDS to carry out the evacuation to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka.
The ZFDS plane, registration 9J AGC, piloted by Director of Aviation Services Lasford Manchisi and co-pilot Siphosami Zulu, dashed to Chipata to pick up the patients.
On board, paramedics Suzan Banda and Sampa Chibwe provided care to the two sisters throughout the flight.
Upon landing at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport ZAF base, the sisters were met by two separate ambulances from UTH and the National Heart Hospital due to the complexity of their injuries.
Both sisters are now undergoing further treatment at UTH. The rescue followed a serious accident on Airport Road in Chipata.
According to Eastern Province Police, a Toyota Hiace Quantum failed to keep to its lane and collided head-on with the sisters' vehicle near a local parish.
The flight was the second major operation of the day for the ZFDS team, following a morning mission repatriating two patients beneficiaries of Workers compensation to Livingstone.

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Plot number 2965, Hangar No 1B at Zuze Airforce Base, Ndola.

(+260) 212-618228, 00212-613890, 0212611417/8

zfdsadmin@zfds.org.zm

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