Harare — Zimbabwe’s newly established air ambulance service has saved more than 900 lives since its launch in August 2024, marking a major milestone in the Second Republic’s efforts to improve healthcare delivery.
Operating from Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, the service is powered by Russian-donated Ansat helicopters and managed by Helidrivezim. The aircraft are fitted with advanced intensive care facilities, including ventilators and full monitoring systems, effectively turning them into flying Intensive Care Units (ICUs).
Doctors say the initiative has revolutionised emergency care by swiftly airlifting critical patients from provincial hospitals, many of which lack specialist equipment and expertise, to advanced treatment centres in Harare.
Health officials confirmed that the government provides the service free of charge, ensuring that all citizens regardless of income or location can benefit. The intervention has been particularly crucial for patients in remote areas where access to specialist care was once limited by long road journeys.
Helidrivezim has also maintained a flawless safety record, with every evacuation flight successfully completed without fatalities.
“The service has drastically cut response times and improved survival rates, proving to be a lifeline for hundreds of families,” a senior health official said.
Introduced as part of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 development agenda, the air ambulance initiative underscores government’s commitment to equitable healthcare access. Authorities say it is one of several flagship programmes aimed at ensuring no Zimbabwean is left behind.
