With less than 60 days to the start of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, hardly a day passes in which we are not reminded of this monumental sport event that is scheduled to kick off in Africa for the first time. Putting together the first edition of Airborne for 2010, presented us with a refreshing break from the constant soccer fever that has the entire country in its grip.
This edition highlights again the unique challenges that the African continent presents. Read about one family’s experience in Mozambique and why they needed Air Rescue Africa’s services twice in just over a month, in Double Take.
Moegsina Gomez, one of our neonatal flight nurses, shares a story about the evacuation of a 3-day old baby from Kenya in We do just because… Moegsina’s touching account reveals the passion, compassion and determination with which the crew approaches their duties. She also highlights some of the challenges the staff face when performing rescue missions in less than perfect circumstances, whilst the ticking clock counts the seconds that separates life and death.
Chief Flight Nurse Gayle Partridge takes a further look at what motivates the Air Rescue Africa team in Beautiful People and rediscovers how passionate this group is about medicine, aviation and Africa. Two very efficient and organised ladies support the flight crews and Elmarie van Ryneveld, Lanseria Base Manager and Neven Pillay, Medical Flight Services Administrator, share information about their responsibilities and passions in Personality profiles.
We have had to bid a sad farewell to Shirley Palmer - our Airborne Editor at Large – who wrote to us from beyond the Great Wall. Her beautiful descriptions of China and Mongolia will be greatly missed. Fortunately, we can still look forward to the interesting facts revealed in The Final Word. In this edition, Gayle discusses how the statistics of our 2009 cases emphasise common risks associated with the continent and offers advice on how to mitigate them. These statistics, prove again, that Malaria is a risk whilst travelling in Southern Africa and we have put together life-saving Malaria facts in Malaria Kills (but you can prevent it)..
By the time the next edition is published, the Soccer World Cup in South Africa will be a memory, and we trust it will be a proud one. Until then, enjoy this issue and travel safely.
Warm Regards
The Airborne Team
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