3 minute read
Medical assistance from above
With more than 20 years of experience across Africa, Medical Rescue Africa (MRA) is Namibia’s leading fixed-wing aeromedical evacuation company. It specialises in the evacuation of critically ill and injured patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
MRA is based at Eros Airport in Windhoek and focuses on the provision of innovative medical emergency evacuation solutions to various customers across the continent as well as aeromedical services through a network of skilled paramedics, nurses and emergency doctors.
Always ready to assist, MRA has its own 24-hour call centre with trained and dedicated operators using state of the art equipment and aviation information technology. The call centre liaises with local and international medical aid, insurance and medical assistance companies to help facilitate and coordinate medical evacuations and repatriation services. Furthermore MRA provides unique database information technology for its clients and stakeholders, giving peace of mind that expert help is available at a moment’s notice.
As urgency is key, all aircraft and vehicles are monitored through approved tracking systems which provide the call centre with reliable real-time tracking data and GPS positioning.
Through Westair Aviation, MRA has a dedicated fleet of air ambulance aircraft on standby which can land on unimproved airstrips and operate at night as well as in bad weather conditions. Air crews undergo regular refresher training, and all operations comply with the highest safety and quality standards.
MRA maintains the required flight approvals and block clearances to fly to a number of African countries at a
moment’s notice, providing wide aeromedical coverage. A medical crew is ready on a 24-hour standby basis with a fully ICU-equipped aircraft.
To ensure the best possible prehospital treatment for patients, MRA also offers a 24-hour road ambulance at Eros Airport for transporting patients from the airport to the hospital. The MRA Ambulance is equipped to an ICU care level. Additionally, a standard service-level agreement is in place with all accredited ALS (Advanced Life Support) ambulance services across Namibia for effective evacuation by road, if no activation of the fixedwing air ambulance is required.
MRA specialises in setting up remote 24-hour onsite medical emergency units with ALS paramedical services. Paramedics assist with basic first aid training, disaster planning, the development and implementation of emergency response plans, the provision of checklists for first aid kits on the premises and assisting with compliance with the Ministry of Health act. MRA also offers a 24- hour doctor-on-call telemedicine service for companies in remote areas, including the transport of life-saving medication or blood packs to the sick and injured. Lodge assistance is provided by contracting emergency response and evacuation plans as well as remote telemedicine and assistance services.
MRA’s industrial site medical services include the management and operation of on-site ambulances and clinics, as well as regular safety audits, field intelligence, health risk management and emergency response exercises. These services typically extend to also incorporating on-site emergency medical services, mass casualty incident management and evacuation, emergency response plan development and training and disaster planning and management.
