The Flying Doctors Service was started by three doctors who created an organisation to provide medical services to far flung corners of Africa.
One of these doctors, Michael Wood, wrote “It dawned on me that only a small percentage of the inhabitants of the earth had access to medical care- I was staggered by a statement which a friend quoted to me that 50 percent of the population of the world was born lived and died without ever seeing a doctor”.
Wood was inspired by the Australian Flying Doctors Services- who had “thrown a mantle of safety across a continent” and he and his colleagues set out to do the same, with a much greater challenge before them- Africa.
Over the years, the Flying Doctors air network has become the lifeblood of AMREF and a life saving service for both African communities and visitors to the continent.
The same pioneering spirit that founded the Flying Doctors still drives the organisation today. Flying into remote regions in Eastern Africa requires skill and resourcefulness- and our pilots, doctors and medical staff still face major logistical challenges on a daily basis.
Rough bush landings and take-offs on makeshift airstrips, encounters with unpredictable weather, wildlife and terrain are all in days work for AMREF.
But the reward is far greater than any of the challenges.
Over its years of existence, the Flying Doctor Service has flown over 10 million miles, evacuated over 25,000 patients, and provided life-saving and life-changing medical assistance to many more.
We provide clinical support and training to health workers, doctors and nurses in remote location through our Outreach Services We bring specialist doctors and surgeons to remote areas to deal with locally prevalent diseases such as leprosy, fistulae and other life-threatening ailments.
The services we offer are solely dependent on voluntary donations, many of these directly through our Membership scheme for travellers to East Africa.
Anyone can sign up for Flying Doctor coverage during their trip to East Africa-not only does this provide them with safety and peace of mind- but also the knowledge that their fee has gone towards supporting AMREF’s health care work all over Africa.
The Flying Doctors Society of East Africa helps finance the work of The Flying Doctor Service by raising funds through a membership scheme. Members have access to one free air ambulance evacuation per year to Nairobi in the event of a serious accident or illness.
In 1970, Dr. Michael Wood was awarded a Distinguished Service Medal for his services to Africa and later in 1985 he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. In 1986, he was given the Raoul Wallenburg Award for Humanity.