Brazilian Air Force tallies 60 organ flights in three months
The Brazilian Air Force completed its 51st mission since June on 13 September.
The Brazilian Air Force has announced that it has transported 60 organs for transplant in the last three months in its military aircraft, and completed its 51st mission since June on 13 September.
The latest mission saw a C-97 Brasilia plane from Pioneer Squadron land in Campo Grande Air Base to assist medical staff with the transport of a liver. The plane and its crew had flown from their base in Rio de Janerio.
“Air Force support is always important as there is a shortage of doctors in some regions,” said surgeon Oliveira Ronaldo, “As Brazil is a country of continental dimensions, the logistics provided by FAB facilitates and accelerates the transport [of organs].”
The liver was harvested from a 47-year-old donor who had died of stroke-induced haemorrhage. The donor’s kidneys were transported to São Paulo on a commercial flight, but the liver was urgently needed by a 19-year-old, according to the National Transplant Centre (CNT).
Ronaldo said that the patient had been waiting four days before the right donor was found. He praised the FAB’s readiness to assist with the mission. Since June the Air Force has transported two kidneys, three lungs, five pancreases, 26 hearts and 24 livers.
Major Flavio Cardoso Abadie, commander of the aircraft, expressed pride in the Air Force’s achievements, but said that Brazilian citizens ‘are the real beneficiaries’ of the work. “We are very proud to be able to carry out our work and save lives,” he added.