E-Plus in partnership with AMREF Flying Doctors Rescues a Five Month Baby Specialized Treatment

Tuesday, 20 March 2018, Nairobi: Emergency Plus Medical Services (E-Plus) in partnership with AMREF Flying Doctors has carried out an air evacuation for a five-month old baby with a congenital extra-cranial tumour from Mandera county to Nairobi for a specialized medical treatment.

The baby was received by E-Plus Medical Director, Dr. Muthoni Ntonjira at Wilson Airport and transfered to Kenyatta National Hospital for a neurosurgical care by Dr. Samuel Njiru, a neurosurgeon and Dr. Susan Nabulindo, a paediatric anaesthesiologist.

Ms Julie Gichuru of Arimus Media reached out to E-Plus after Abdi Hussein Mohammed, a nurse at Mandera County Referral Hospital made the appeal. E-Plus offered to airlift the baby, and cater for the medical bill.  In partnership with the AMREF Flying Doctors, the baby was airlifted from Mandera County Referral Hospital accompanied by the parents and transferred to Kenyatta Hospital by the E-Plus ground ambulance team.

According to the nurse in Mandera, the parents had lost hope for their ailing baby because they could not afford transport to Nairobi and the life-saving treatment needed for the baby. The baby was born at home with the extra cranial tumour and when it progressively became bigger, the parents sought medical care at Mandera County Referral Hospital. He was treated at the hospital for one week and later referred to Kenyatta National Hospital for neurosurgical intervention.

“In a bid to save lives, E-Plus has committed to cater for ground emergency pre-hospital care as well as the full treatment costs at the hospital to ensure that the baby gets back his normal life.” Dr. Muthoni Ntonjira, the Medical Director at E-plus said. She appreciated the support of AMREF Flying Doctors who undertook air evacuation on charity basis.

“We are glad to be of assistance to get baby Mustaab Dakane to a specialised medical care in Nairobi”, says Dr. Lelo, Chief Medical Officer, AMREF Flying Doctors.

Speaking at after the arrival of the baby, Dr. Bettina Vadera, CEO of AMREF Flying Doctors has called upon the National and County governments to join hands with service providers like AMREF Flying Doctors to establish an emergency fund which is easily disbursed to make life saving evacuation flights like this accessible to vulnerable Kenyans.

Emergency Plus Medical Services fully owned by the Kenya Red Cross Society, and AMREF Flying Doctors fully owned by Amref Health Africa, are committed to offer advanced pre-hospital emergency medical services.

For further information, please contact:

• Titus Kisangau, Communications Officer, E-Plus, Mobile: +254-703 610 989, Email: kisangau.titus@eplus.co.ke
• Catherine Ochola, Head of Communications, AMREF Flying Doctors, Mobile: +254 -706 751 766, Email: Catherine@flydoc.org