Flying Doctor Service East Africa

VOLUNTEER PHYSICIAN PROGRAMME

AMREF FLYING DOCTOR SERVICE

 OBJECTIVES

1. To provide physicians from around the world with the opportunity to work with AMREF’s

Flying Doctor Service.

2.To encourage physicians to fly on aeromedical emergency missions

3.To make experienced physicians available to exchange knowledge and skills in emergency care practices with our Air Ambulance service                                     

CRITERIA

1.Must be a qualified physician (minimum 3 years working experience), experienced in Pre-hospital care and/or emergency medicine.  Applying physicians should have working experience in intensive care medicine or accident & emergency medicine and be skilled and confident in all emergency procedures e.g. intubation, insertion of chest tubes and others.  Ideally, volunteer physicians should hold current certificates in Advanced Cardiac-, Advanced Trauma- and Advanced Paediatric Life Support.

2.Each physician must be financially independent to include accommodation, meals and transport.  Average cost per stay approximitely US$ 1000 per month

3.Each physician will be required to provide at least one teaching session on a topic covering Emergency or aviation medicine.

4. The applying physician must be able to speak English proficiently.

5. Minimum stay recommended: 4 weeks

6. Each physician must submit copies of:

·                  Curriculum vitae

·                  Certificate of Medical degree

·                  Certificate of Medical registration

·                  Passport

·                  Personal Medical Malpractice Insurance (which must be valid for East Africa).

·                  Two passport size photographs

6.Office hours will be from 8.30 am to 5.00 pm unless an evacuation requires an early departure or late return.  The physician will also be covering the weekend on rota but will not  to be required to be in the office. A mobile phone or radio will be provided.  Scheduling is flexible so each physician will have some free time for travelling.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

1. AMREF will arrange collection from and return to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

2. Accident insurance cover is provided while the physician is involved with aeromedical

Evacuations.

3. AMREF arranges for temporary registrations with the local Medical Board

4. AMREF can assist in arranging accommodation at the Aeroclub which is 10 minutes’ walk from our offices, or sharing an apartment also in walking distance. Depending on the length of stay, AMREF may be able to contribute towards the accommodation.

WORK OF THE FLYING DOCTOR SERVICE

The Flying Doctor Service is part of the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) and was established by Sir Michael Wood, in 1957.  Since then, the flying Doctors have been involved in many health care projects in East Africa, one of them being the Emergency Services.

The Flying Doctor Service provides medical emergency and trauma care as well as transfers between medical facilities, covering the countries of East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda) and, when clearance can be obtained, neighbouring countries (Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Somalia, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and Madagascar.

In addition, some patients are repatriated to South Africa, Europe and North America or medical escort can be provided on commercial carriers.

AMREF Flying Doctor Service operates 24hours/day, 365 days of the year through its control centre located at Wilson Airport in Nairobi. Highly qualified medical staff and aircrew are on standby to respond to emergencies. 

AMREF owns and operates a fleet of aircraft which can be converted into airborne intensive care units, using modern medical equipment. 

The Flying Doctors provide air rescue service to members as well as non members and carry out charity flights to those underprivileged people in East Africa, who are in need of medical care but unable to pay.

As a vital link between remote areas and the control centre, AMREF has established a radio network that comprises over 100HF radio stations, making it the largest two-way radio network in Africa.