In a remarkable effort to provide specialized healthcare to rural communities, the Zambia Flying Doctor Service (ZFDS) at the just-ended outreach, performed a series of critical orthopedic surgeries on patients who had been suffering from severe fractures, giving them renewed hope for recovery.

One of the patients attended to during the outreach was a 15-year-old boy from Mkushi District, who had sustained a distal radius fracture in his right arm after falling off a bicycle while playing. The boy initially visited a local hospital, where his fracture was treated with a Plaster of Paris (POP) to immobilize the bone. However, an X-ray revealed improper bone alignment, requiring further intervention.

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Nelson Banda, along with his team, successfully operated on the boy, placing two wires to realign and stabilize the bone fragments.The procedure went smoothly, and the boy is currently under observation, with hopes of making a full recovery.

During the outreach, the ZFDS team also treated a 30-year-old woman from Mpika who suffered a supracondylar fracture near her elbow after a fall. She traveled to Mkushi upon hearing that the ZFDS orthopedic team was stationed there.

Upon evaluation, the team determined that her untreated fracture put her at high risk for fat embolism—a potentially fatal condition if not addressed promptly.

Dr. Banda quickly scheduled her for surgery, performing an Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF) procedure. Using plates and screws to stabilize the bone, the operation was successful, and the patient is now stable and recovering well.

Another patient, a 55-year-old woman, sustained a bimalleolar fracture—a type of ankle fracture involving both the tibia and fibula.

After a month of improper treatment, she traveled to Mkushi for help during the ZFDS outreach.Dr. Banda and his team performed another ORIF procedure, successfully placing plates and screws to stabilize her ankle and enable her to regain mobility.

These successful operations were carried out by a dedicated ZFDS team led by Dr. Banda, assisted by anesthetist Mr. Patrice Ching’umbe, theatre nurse Liliose Maniragena, and other medical professionals, including Dr. Kayabwe, Dr. Kabwe, Medical Licensure Chishimba, and Sr. Mainza, the theatre in-charge from Mkushi District Hospital.

The just-ended medical outreach in Mkushi highlights the critical role that ZFDS plays in providing much-needed healthcare services to underserved communities.

With no cost to the patients, the ZFDS outreach continues to be a beacon of hope for those who lack access to specialized care.The Service remains committed to improving health outcomes and delivering quality medical interventions across the Country.