Working hand in hand with AMREF Flying Doctors, MAF provided an essential link in a medical evacuation that enabled a humanitarian worker to reach urgent treatment.
Story by Annet Nabbanja
When Osam Osman Idriss Sulieman developed serious heart problems, he urgently needed specialised medical care.
But there was a major problem: He was working in a troubled part of Sudan, and the nearest suitable care was in Nairobi, Kenya.
In seeking medical care, Osam had already travelled by car for ten hours into Chad.
Travelling another 13 hours by road from Adré to N’Djamena was deemed too risky for his condition. Instead, MAF was able to fly him to the Chadian capital in just three hours, helping him continue a medical evacuation that crossed international borders.
Osam works with the UN in the Darfur region, mainly in East and South Darfur states. His main intervention clusters are protection, emergency shelter and the provision of essential household items such as blankets and cooking utensils.
“We are serving Internally Displaced Persons, refugees, returnees and the host community,” said Osam.
AMREF Flying Doctors, an aeromedical organisation that provides emergency medical evacuations across Africa, reached out to MAF for support in flying the patient from the unsealed runway at Adré, near the Chadian border, to N’Djamena, where he was to be airlifted onwards to Nairobi for treatment.
Pilot Phil went a day before and spent the night in Abéché where he flew out the next day to Adré to pick the patient.
Adré is located very close to Chad's eastern border with Sudan only 400 metres away.
“The patient was doing much better and even though we brought a stretcher, he was able walk and climb in the aeroplane by himself,” said Phil.
Thank you for the great support that was given by you. You have saved my life. I succeeded to reach the hospital on time. Now I have improved a lot and am well.
“Due to his physical condition, I limited the flight altitude. At higher altitudes, the air is thinner and increases the risk of hypoxia (lack of oxygen in the body).”
The patient was calm during the uneventful flight. In the meantime, a jet from AMREF arrived in N’Djamena, to which Osam was transferred on arrival.
From Nairobi, Osam sent a grateful message to MAF.
“Thank you for the great support that was given by you,” he said. “You have saved my life. I succeeded to reach the hospital on time. Now I have improved a lot and am well.”
Sudan faces the largest humanitarian and displacement crisis in the world, driven by a brutal civil war that began in April 2023.
The conflict has resulted in refugees moving into the east of Chad.
“The suffering that people go through in Sudan is immense,” said Esmara, MAF’s Country Director in Chad. “We hear daily about the needs from both those who fled, and from their host communities in the east of Chad.
“It is MAF’s vision to one day be able to serve in Sudan. Till that day, we try to help in every small way we can. Even though MAF’s contribution sometimes feels only a drop in the ocean, it can still make a difference. This medevac flight for a UN worker in Sudan is an example of this. It shows that we care, and it makes a difference in the life of that person.”
The situation in Sudan can be challenging and traumatising, posing a health threat to the people working there.
We try to help in every small way we can. Even though MAF’s contribution sometimes feels only a drop in the ocean, it can still make a difference.
“Access to life-saving services is challenging due to intertribal conflict and the current war,” said Osam.
MAF is grateful to be a part of one small rescue mission and the team prays for the continuity of Osam’s work in Sudan.
“By being a part of the chain, we pray that the patient will recover well, and in future can continue his service in Sudan,” said Esmara.