AMREF Covid-19 Response Training, 28 May 2020

AMREF Flying Doctors has started training COVID-19 prevention and response training of EAC International Airport staff ahead of Partner States resuming their flight schedules. The training was kicked off at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi with training of trainers (TOT) for the first group of 15 of a total of 240 key airport personnel targeted for TOT and are expected to spearhead the development and conduction of targeted training sessions for the rest of the airport personnel. These training is organized and coordinated by The Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (EAC CASSOA) and facilitated by the Federal Republic of Germany. Each TOT session comprises two 2-day courses with each class having 15 participants to meet the recommended social distancing requirements. Subsequent sessions will follow in Mombasa, Juba, Entebbe, Bujumbura, Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro and Kigali.

The first training was officially opened by the Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Economic Affairs, at the German Embassy in Nairobi, Thomas Wimmer, and the Director General of the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and CASSOA Board Chair, Capt. Gilbert M. Kibe. The capacity building targets staff from the Civil Aviation Authority, airline operators, port health, animal health, immigration, customs, cargo and baggage, security, airport rescue & firefighters as well as from the Collaborative Arrangement for the Prevention and Management of Public Health Events in Civil Aviation (CAPSCA).

The training implements parts of the EAC Regional COVID-19 Response Plan.

AMREF’s Portable Isolation Chambers, 13 May 2020

AMREF Flying Doctors, the leading Air Ambulance service provider in Africa, has today announced the acquisition of two Portable Isolation Chambers.
This acquisition is a direct response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, driven by the increasing possibility of the need to transfer positive patients by air ambulance between medical facilities in the region and beyond. “Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the region we have received numerous requests to transport infected patients within Kenya and in the region”, said Stephen Gitau, Chief Executive Officer at AMREF Flying Doctors, “To ensure that we do this safely and with minimal exposure to our medical and air crew as well members of the public, we decided to invest in the two Portable Isolation Chambers”

Effective immediately, all AMREF Flying Doctors clients – including the Disciplined forces, Civil Servants and Public Secondary School students (registered under National Education Information System) covered under the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) contract for Emergency Air Evacuation Services – will start enjoying access to the patient transport isolation units in the event of a medical evacuation. “The introduction of Portable Isolation Chambers will enable AMREF Flying Doctors to increase the medical evacuation capacity, by being able to transport COVID-19 positive patients on board our aircraft, in the best interest of the patient and our hard working staff”, adds Stephen Gitau. Since the outbreak of the novel corona virus in Kenya, AMREF Flying Doctors has supported the Government of Kenya through the Ministry of Health and has rendered logistical and professional support whenever called upon to do so. This has recently included movement of critical medical supplies and personnel to far-flung spots throughout the country, in response to new threats. The purchase of these units will further increase the options available to AMREF Flying Doctors in supporting government efforts against the spread of COVID-19.

All AMREF Flying Doctors air, medical and ground personnel have already undergone thorough training on the application of the newly acquired Portable Isolation Chambers, so they can be immediately deployed.

About the Portable Isolation Chamber

The portable isolation chamber is an innovative medical isolation and transportation system designed for optimal safety during patient loading and transport. The unit is a single patient isolator made of cleanable materials. It is easily assembled for use, fully transportable and is compatible with leading ambulance-stretcher systems. It is compatible with most mechanical ventilator circuits. The equipment meets all requirements for full environmental protection from cross-contamination. Easy access to the patient enables advanced care and treatment. The design allows the provision of most intensive care treatments and emergency procedures. The unit is reusable with compact storage when not in use.

Only 30 minutes are needed to prepare and load the patient into the Portable Isolation Chamber. The patient can stay inside as long as necessary as the air is circulated through special filters – meaning that both short and long-distance transfers are possible.