THE MINISTER OF HEALTH COMMENDS MISSION AVIATION FELLOWSHIP FOR ITS SERVICES.
   The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr M Phooko commended the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) for their excellent and professional services in providing air transport for the Ministry's department of Flying Doctors Services. Speaking at the official opening of the renovations to the Mission Aviation Fellowship hanger at Mejametalana on Thursday 25 July,2002, the Minister indicated that the Lesotho Flying Doctors Services has provided the mountain communities with Medical Care Services, which would not have been possible without the MAF.


The Minister stated that he had been informed that a lady with a complicated presentation of her pregnancy, from Methaleng, has  safely delivered  a healthy infant at Queen II hospital in less than an hour. "This is good news to our Lesotho Flying Doctors Services. Certainly without air transport, this could not have been possible", he said.

At the same occasion, the Consulate General of Ireland, Mr B Nolan, said the reality of flying doctors services requires hard work and dedication as it is a highly risky operation. However, he said "The operation is not very much worrying in the country because it is in the hands of highly qualified personnel". Mr Nolan, indicated that the improvements made at the hanger, would further improve the services of MAF as there are many areas in the country that still depend on the flying doctors services, which depend on MAF's air transport.


MAF started work in the Kingdom of Lesotho in 1980 when it entered into agreement with the Ministry of Health to provide transport for the Lesotho Flying Doctors Service. Since then, their aircraft and pilots have flown many thousands of miles over the mountains of Lesotho, bringing medical care to communities who
would otherwise either have to do without such care, or else put in much time and effort to travel to a clinic.

25 July, 2002

  SOURCE: LENA