How Air Ambulance Services Work For Events

I was reading this recent story in the Punch Newspaper.Apparently, there were 10 deaths at the Robert Kelly Concert in Abuja.

We believe that many of the thousands of deaths that take place at events in Nigeria are completely preventable if more care is taken at the planning stages. This point was also made by the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe in the Punch article.

Looking at the health and safety risks of any event is an exceptionally important part of event planning. Failure to do often results in the sort of tragedy described in this article. Fifteen young, fit, educated music fans died at a concert in Abuja, because a group of organisers failed to adequately assess and equip the venue adequately.

The Flying Doctors as well as 2 or 3 other companies offer both risk assessment consultancy and stand-by ambulance coverage for events. However, the Flying Doctors Nigeria is the only company that specialises in using doctor-led land AND air ambulance cover for events like this. In November, we were asked by the Federal Government to cover the presidential 'Declaration of Intent' ceremony which was an honour and a privilege.

For anybody planing a large concert/church programme/political rally or sporting event. Make getting EXPERT consultants on your health & safety risk and obtaining adequate medical coverage a priority,so we can avoid anything like this happening again!

Funmi, Year 1 intern @Flying Doctors Nigeria Ltd(Medical Student)

A Wake Up Call?

Nigeria has had many wake-up calls.

This is undoubtedly one of them.

Our condolences go out to the friends and families of the twelve that died and the eight that were injured.

We definately think that the type of rapid, expert medical care offered by the Flying Doctors Nigeria is needed in Abuja more then ever. Emergency services have made a HUGE difference in other cities where such tragedies have occured such as Mumbai

Dr Da Vinci's Book

We are extremely proud to present doctor Da Vinci's new book, published by Radcliffe.

She has been in the UK and Nigeria promoting it and sales have been excellent so far.

The quality of Child Health is a huge issue in Nigeria, so much so that it has been highlighted as one of the Millenium Development Goals(MDG's);more on our work with the fabulous Amina Ibrahim and the MDG's later.

Thanks to the various contributors that worked so hard to make this book a success including Dr Guy Millman, Dr Damiete Harry, the extraordinary Dr Helen Chaplin and Miss Lucy Cooper for making it happen.

Sam

Nigeria loses 59,000 pregnant women annually

I have already highlighted the embrassing Nigerian maternal mortality rates in a previous post but today the Punch-Nigeria's most widely read newspaper has published an article on the governments latest efforts to combat this problem.

The sum of N9bn has been allocated to 12 states to help train the appropiate specialists and update the facilities in state obstetric units.

This is an issue that the Flying Doctors has and will continue to lobby about, as well as provide critical care transport for these women and their often critically ill newborns.

Dr Da Vinci hopes that at least some of this funding will make it through Nigeria's funnel of corruption (pictured above).

Andrew Lansley And OOH

Many names go through Dr Da Vinci's head over the course of a day. One of the new-comers is a gentleman called Andrew Lansley the new secretary of state for health.

What is he plotting? Is he as competent as everyone says he is? What does this mean for the NHS? What's his angle?

An article in the Daily Mail this week, based on his recent press conference, touched on a very sore nerve for many doctors; the provision of out-of-hours services by GP's.

You see many GP's work over 60 hours a week already. It would take a great deal of re-structuring to ensure that this service can be provided safely.

I've read some of the comments on the article. GP's are once again branded as 'Lazy', 'Fat Cats', 'Greedy', 'Focussed on profit instead of patient care' when infact the crux of the problem seems to be how OOH can be safely implemented and paid for rather than GP's being reluctant to do it.

I like the fact that....."Under his plans, responsibility will be handed back from primary care trusts to GPs working in local groups, who will commission services or provide them by working in rotas through co-ops."This will be much better than the current private provider model.

Opinion on Andrew Lansely? As yet undecided, all will be revealed on his 60 day report card.

Valerie Taylor And CRP

I've been meaning to write about this inspiring story for a while. Pleased I finally have gotten round to it. It's a story that touched me immensely when I first read of it a few weeks ago.

The woman in the picture above is Valerie Taylor O.B.E. Orginally from Buckinghamshire, England,she first travelled to Bangladesh with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) in 1969 to work as a physiotherapist in Chandragona Hospital, near Chittagong. At that time Bangladesh was still known as East Pakistan, as a result of the partition of India after British rule ended in 1947.

In 1973 Valerie returned to England to attempt to raise funds to establish a rehabilitation centre for disabled. She stayed in England for two years before returning in 1975. It took another four years before CRP was able to admit it's first patients in 1979. During this time, Valerie worked in the Shaheed Surawady Hospital in Dhaka and it was in the grounds of this hospital that CRP had it's first premises, two cement storerooms which were used to treat patients.Since then, the CRP has grown to include a 100-bed hospital, in addition to providing other rehabilitation treatments. The center includes recreational services including a swimming pool, and sports areas. The center also provides vocational training so that the poorer patients can learn income-generating skills that can be performed while in their physical condition.

Through all the various moves from one premises to another, Valerie has continued to work tirelessly for the benefit of CRP. Even today the light in her office can be seen burning till late in the evening.

Valerie is also legal guardian to two disabled girls, Joyti and Poppy.

Despite officially taking a backseat role at CRP some years ago, Valerie remains the driving force behind the running and development of CRP.

In 1998 Valerie was awarded Bangladeshi citizenship by the then Prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina.


Amazing story. People like this push me forward, make me want to read more,strive more, learn more and teach more in an effort to become a better doctor and a better person.

Unfinished Business say Remedy UK

The doctors pressure group remedy is doing great things.

I've never been a pet person, but I love the ferret. Lovely to see you supporting your trainees!