Medical Air Transport in Africa

Rural medical airlift is a critical need globally. The disparity in access, however, is staggering. The absence of air transportation in many rural areas results in preventable deaths. Whether the need is in medical supplies delivery or transportation of patients, General Aviation can be a major solution. Strategic Aviation Services (SAS) focuses its operations on rural Africa, where the need for medical airlift is dire. 

Rural areas are often associated with poor infrastructure. This is the case, even in the developed world. According to the U.S. Federal Highway Administration, nearly 40% of rural roads in the United States lack maintenance or are in poor conditions. In Africa, an estimated 60-80 % of the population live in rural areas, where road conditions are mostly poor. With infrastructural development mostly centered in big cities, rural communities are often cut off from technology, essential services and economic opportunities. It is not uncommon for pregnant women in Africa to walk miles, in dangerous conditions, to seek medical attention.  

The story of Birke, a pregnant woman who went through labor for three days in her village without medical attention, is one of several similar stories in Ethiopia. She eventually made her way out of the village on a stretcher, carried by a group of men who walked five hours to get her to the nearest transport connection point. Birke’s horrific experience, as detailed by Daley (2016), ended with her baby dead. Even where villages are in close proximity to cities, perpetual city traffic can turn a 20-minute drive into a two-hour-long journey. Many who die during medical emergencies in Africa die because of delays associated with land rescue. A healthy community is a stronger economy. Air transportation is a life saver and a necessity, where road connectivity woefully lacks. 

Africa’s transport connectivity problem cannot be solved by a single group. The task is a collective responsibility which requires a large pool of expertise. General Aviation is one. Collaborations between aviation experts and stakeholders – including governments, local communities, businesses, philanthropists and other organizations are required to overcome the challenge. SAS seeks partnerships to put structures and equipment in place to enhance transport connectivity, where critically needed. Aviation is a viable mode of transportation, where road conditions are poor.