Air medical program planned for West African oil and gas

The aviation provider has partnered with ADAC HEMS Academy, a subsidiary of German air ambulance company ADAC Luftrettung, and Kasi Healthcare’s Offshore and Aeromedical Unit to deliver the service.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the three companies on 12 July, according to a report by Nigeria’s Guardian newspaper.

The program would include both helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) and longer-distance regional air ambulance operations using dedicated aircraft, centered on remote parts of West Africa and offshore locations in the Gulf of Guinea.

ADAC HEMS Academy has also confirmed that it will establish a training facility to support the project.

According to Dr Dayo Osholowu, Medical Director of Kasi Healthcare’s Offshore and Aeromedical Unit, although the project is primarily focused on the offshore industry, they are in discussions with the Nigerian government about the possibility of responding to major incidents.

“The project is sustained by the oil and gas industry and using the spare capacity for public safety,” he said.

Drone company Zipline began medical logistics deliveries in Nigeria’s Kaduna State late last year.