Zimbabwe to construct helipads at major hospitals

Speaking to the country’s Sunday Mail newspaper, the initiative was confirmed by Dr Douglas Mombeshora, Zimbabwe’s Health and Child Care Minister.

“One of the key requirements [for the implementation of the air ambulance service] is the establishment of helipads at major referral hospitals, to facilitate smooth takeoff and landing,” Mombeshora explained.

He added that alongside the construction of new helipads, the government was looking to address the “need for an adequate fleet of ground ambulances that will complement the air ambulances once they are operational”.

The Zimbabwean government hopes to have an air ambulance service in operation by the middle of this year.

Helicopters have already been delivered

The program will utilize a fleet of helicopters ordered from Russian state corporation Rostec in 2023. The order covered a total of 18 helicopters, intended for the provision of air medical, law enforcement, and search and rescue services – of which 12 have reportedly been delivered.

To support the implementation of the country’s air ambulance program, a team of 20 senior doctors, nurses, and ambulance staff were sent through an intensive training program last year. The training was conducted by Russian flight paramedic instructors at the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.

According to the Sunday Mail, another group of personnel were traveling to Russia to be “trained on air ambulance operations and emergency case management”.