Three young men involved in a serious motorcycle accident are starting to walk again after an MAF aircraft helped them access treatment.
MAF carried out a life-saving medical evacuation, for three young men from Juba, South Sudan, to Nairobi, Kenya, to receive specialised medical treatment following severe fractures.
The three were victims of a road accident, the result of a head-on collision involving two motorcycles. One of the casualties is a staff member of In Deed and Truth Ministries (IDAT) and the organisation facilitated the medevac flight. Motorcycles serve as the primary mode of transportation in Juba, and coupled with the difficult road conditions, has created a hazardous environment.
I am overjoyed about their recovery journey, were it not for MAF, I don’t know what the result would have been. The road would have caused them more pain.
MAF Pilot Jono Pound landed the aircraft in Kenya’s capital in just four hours, delivering the patients and their caretaker safely to the awaiting ambulance services, which transferred them to Tenwek Mission Hospital in Eldoret.
Makoc from IDAT and a fourth-year medical student in Juba, took care of the casualties and shared information with the MAF team about the injuries sustained.
One patient on the stretcher had two fractures to the knee – the patella, and a femoral fracture. Another injured man had a fracture of the acetabulum, where the thigh bone connects to the hip. The third also had a fracture to the tibia, the lower leg.
I was excited to see the three men walking and standing with the help of crutches. Indeed, doctors at Tenwek have done their best and the prayers of MAF and people around the globe have been heard by our Lord. Thanks to MAF for facilitating the flights.
Pilot Jono shared, “It was my first medevac to carry out, and I was happy to transfer the three young men from Tonj state in South Sudan to Juba for treatment. However, ten days later, it was a little heartbreaking to find out that they had not received proper treatment. It was by chance that I happened to be on the shuttle that week to bring them to Nairobi.
“Upon arrival, I was amazed and touched by the loving and tender-hearted care that was offered to the casualties by the ambulance service providers; from assessing them and offering the needed first aid, carefully laying each on their stretcher and loading them onto the ambulance at the airport grounds. It was an emotional and happy moment for me seeing these men finally receiving good care; it just looked like the best care they could have possibly got”.
All three men underwent successful surgeries and great post-surgical care and are on their road to recovery.
“I am overjoyed about their recovery journey, were it not for MAF, I don’t know what the result would have been. The road would have caused them more pain,” Jono shared.
On their return to Juba five weeks later, Makoc was there to meet the plane as it landed.
“I was excited to see the three men walking and standing with the help of crutches. Indeed, doctors at Tenwek have done their best and the prayers of MAF and people around the globe have been heard by our Lord. Thanks to MAF for facilitating the flights,” he said.
Pilot Matt Marples who started flying in South Sudan recently, was happy to bring the patients back to Juba saying, “IDAT are a valued mission partner who made sure the patients received the best possible care – a remarkable Christian witness. I was happy to play a small role in bringing them back to Juba for their ongoing recovery at home with their loved ones. Let’s join in prayer for their sustained healing.”
IDAT runs a mission hospital for women and children in Tonj which sees between 100 and 200 patients and 30-50 antenatal consultations. In addition, they are involved in various outreaches including a pastors’ training program, a church program, and a Community Health (CHE) Program.