Walter Nyamukondiwa Kariba Bureau

AN air medical rescue service company is pursuing the possibility of introducing its services to the resort town of Kariba.

This will avail top notch life-saving facilities and an Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

With limited initial medical response and care in an emergency in the town, the service will help in bringing specialised medical care during life-threatening situations.

This will entail onboard ICU care during an evacuation and transfer to a care facility, as most complications or deaths occur because someone has failed to get medical care on time.

In an interview at an exhibition at Kariba Airport last week, Ace Air and Ambulance operations director Mr James Halsteds said Kariba was a strategic centre for provision of medical healthcare for north and south bound traffic.

“We have launched the air ambulance services countrywide, and here in Kariba we initially want to set up the ground ambulance base and a station so that we can make the ease of doing business more accessible to the Kariba community,” he said.

“Kariba is important strategically as it is a big route between our borders here, including Chirundu and Harare.

“There is very little care and first world medical care between Harare and Chirundu. Kariba is a strategic hub with international capabilities.”

Mr Halsteds said talks were underway with insurance companies for affordable packages as the lowest were going for about $25 per month.

This, he said, can be reduced further with increased uptake.

“The idea is that the more  the people come on board, the cheaper it turns out to be in the long run,” he said.

“We are in talks with insurance companies so that the figure can go down.”

Patients needing emergency care travel up to 400 kilometres by road to get specialised care in Harare and the development is expected to provide initial specialised care before someone is airlifted to Harare.

Most people involved in accidents along the Harare-Chirundu Highway fail to get critical stabilisation care in the crucial moments when they need it most, resulting in complications and sometimes death.

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