A Mission Aviation Fellowship aircraft was in the right place at the right time to medevac a patient from southeast Chad to receive medical care in the national capital, N’Djamena.
MAF’s timely medevac of Paul Njerabe was a miracle that will forever leave a mark on the hearts of the Tearfund team in Chad.
Paul, a Chadian working as Tearfund’s Church and Community Officer, faced a serious health crisis while in Sarh, prompting urgent efforts from his colleagues to get him to N’Djamena for medical care.
The situation began late Thursday evening when a colleague in Sarh sent a text message to Seid Zebe, the Tearfund Chad Country Director. Paul, who had previously suffered a stroke, was experiencing high blood pressure.
Panic took over when I received the alarming news.
“Paul and I are on our way to the hospital. Please keep us in your prayers.”
By Friday morning, the news worsened. Paul’s condition had deteriorated; he was unable to speak and had lost movement in part of his body.
“Panic took over when I received the alarming news,” Seid said. “But as a leader, I kept my composure.
“We were really worried, to be honest, for our team and our colleague.”
Realising the severity of the situation, Seid instructed the Sarh office to find a vehicle or ambulance to get Paul to N’Djamena urgently. In that moment, he also contacted MAF to arrange for an air evacuation.
The journey by road from Sarh to N’Djamena takes at least 13 hours, but by MAF aircraft is just under 2 hours. Paul, in his deteriorating health condition, would not have managed to be transported to N’Djamena on very bad roads.
Denis Kouladoumbaye, the MAF flight-follower on duty at the time, received the emergency request while the MAF aircraft was en route to nearby Béré. Though it was a busy day, Denis said that the Ops team quickly made decisions to ensure the patient was evacuated.
We’re very grateful that God used us to save Paul’s life.
“When we receive a call for an evacuation to save a life, we set aside our planned flights and prioritise the urgent mission. That’s our duty. We’re very grateful that God used us to save Paul’s life,” Denis said.
The Tearfund team were relieved to be informed that an aircraft would shortly be landing in Béré, only about an hour’s flight from Sarh. A local team from Baptist Mid-Missions offered to deliver extra fuel to the airstrip, allowing the aircraft to refuel and continue to Sarh for the evacuation.
Paul’s colleague, Tchakfiene Boyabe, explained that Tearfund’s small team in Sarh trains religious leaders in advocacy and peacebuilding, aimed at preventing potential conflicts through community dialogue.
“In Sarh, we have a team of three. Paul was only there briefly, and unfortunately, that’s when he got sick,” he said.
Paul, who had great difficulty walking, was safely brought to N’Djamena, accompanied by Tchakfiene, who works as a financial assistant in Tearfund’s Sarh office.
Paul was saved thanks to this evacuation carried out by MAF.
Seid expressed his heartfelt gratitude that transformed his initial panic into a deep appreciation for the lifesaving effort.
“Paul was saved thanks to this evacuation carried out by MAF,” Seid said. “The Tearfund office in Chad will be eternally grateful to you. May God bless you and continue to allow you to save lives.”
Ten days after the medevac, Paul updated on his recovery.
“I am getting better. I’m back home and continuing my treatment, especially the rehabilitation of both limbs.”