Flying For Life - Eye Cattaract Surgery - Limpopo

Mercy Air was again privileged to take an eye cataract surgery team up to Thohoyandou in the Limpopo province, to work at a hospital for the day.

We pick these volunteers up in Johannesburg every two months and this was the fourth trip we'd done this year.

Catching the sunrise just after take off out of Mercy Air.

Picking the team up in Jhb.

Beautiful clear views from 11000' on the way up to Thohoyandou.

Getting to work in the hospital.

The day was about as perfect as they come weather wise from take off just before dawn, until the flight back. The clear skies and excellent visibility...

.. gave way to an impressive sunset just before landing back in Johannesburg...

.. and then the still darkness of night on the flight back into Nelspruit.

All in all, a very long day. There is a 400 people waiting list for cataract surgery as it is not hugely prioritised by the department of Health. The little we can do does go a long way towards helping a few people who would otherwise have minimal hope of a better life.

Thank you

Paul for the Mercy Air team.

Sunrise to Sunset

Last Wednesday was an early departure with the Cessna 310. 

As the sun's first rays appeared over the horizon, I was airborne to Lanseria to pick up a small Flying for Life team. Today the team consisted of a dentist, dental assistant, journalist/videographer, and the coordinator.

At Lanseria for the pick-up

From Lanseria to Tshikondeni Mine, it is always a stark contrast, flying out of a noisy, busy, urban airport and landing at a quiet, abandoned, rural dirt airstrip. 

A van and local driver brought our small team to Makuya Clinic. 

We were pleasantly surprised to find the mobile dental unit already in place, set up and ready to go. 

 

The dentist and assistant were able to move through the patient queue efficiently and even finish ahead of schedule! About 35 people were helped, and in the early afternoon, I was surprised by the news that the work was finished ahead of schedule for the day. The team was ready to fly back to Lanseria.

 

Cessna 310 at Tshikondeni Airstrip...

At Lanseria I refueled and then, with the sun setting behind me, and the moon ahead on the horizon, I was happy to be able to return home just before dark, and land at Mercy Air. Sometimes everything does work out just right! 

Thank you for your support of Mercy Air and it's ongoing work throughout southern Africa.

Azarja

for the Mercy Air team