Zambia's Flying Surgeons Service - 'FlySpec'
FlySpec is a team of surgeons who fly the length and breadth of Zambia to reach orthopaedic patients in need, predominantly children. The work of FlySpec is having a major impact across the country and making a significant and cost-effective contribution towards the care of the physically disabled. All the patients treated are otherwise out of reach of existing specialist services.
The team is led by Professor John Jellis OBE (Orthopaedics), and also includes Mr Goran Jovic (Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon) - both of whom are also pilots. Drs Maundo Chowa and James Munthali qualified as Orthopaedic Surgeons during the year and are taking on an increasing workload. Drs Emmanuel Simwanza, Emmanuel Mukasa and Bruce Bvulani, postgraduate orthopaedic trainees, are increasing their participation as part of their training.
In the past year:
- 62 visits were made using an ageing (1968) aircraft
- 2,211 patients were seen
- 669 surgical operations were performed up-country
- 98 additional major operations on FlySpec patients at the Zambian Italian Orthopaedic Hospital, Lusaka.
FlySpec receives support from the Dutch Government, the American charity 'Wings of Hope' and the Zambia Society Trust. The service depends entirely on private donations and sponsorships, and urgently needs funds to cover the costs of bringing patients needing very major surgery into Lusaka and to pay for the cost of their operations.