In 2008, the CareNow Foundation recognized MMA as a group of compassionate healthcare professionals working in the African country of Zambia doing very important work. They volunteer their time to fly into isolated locations using a 6-seater Cessna aircraft, owned by MMA, to take much needed assistance and medical care to the rural areas of Zambia in support of remote medical clinics and missionary hospitals.
Medical Issues
Availability of medical care and transportation are huge problems for the poor in rural Zambia. MMA’s ability to cover large distances using small aircraft makes it possible to provide assistance through bringing doctors, dentists, eye specialists, surgeons or maintenance engineers to the people who need them. These medical professionals hold clinics and attend to different ailments ranging from malnutrition, anemia, eye problems to surgeries such as intestinal blockages, caesarian sections and amputations. Seriously ill patients are also transported to urban hospitals and MMA brings vaccines and medications to the remote locations they serve. They truly are a life-line to these remote regions.Staffing and Programs
Mission Medic Air (MMA) is operated on an all volunteer basis and relies on donated funding to finance their activities. In October 2008, the CareNow board approved a new “flying clinic” program to support Mission Medic Air and help them expand their work to new locations. MMA currently flies to eight locations on a scheduled basis. They transport healthcare professionals such as doctors, dentists and eye specialists as well as mechanics to repair medical equipment. The work that MMA does makes the difference in the lives of thousands of people that are living in the most remote areas of rural Zambia. Mission Medic Air is the lifeline to connect those in need with those willing to give dedicated service in Zambia’s rural missions and health centers.
Geography
MMA serves much of the country of Zambia which is a landlocked country in Southern Africa with a tropical climate and consists mostly of high plateau, with some hills and mountains, dissected by river valleys.. The neighboring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the East, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west. The capital city is Lusaka, located in the southeast of the country. The population is concentrated mainly around the capital, Lusaka in the south, and the Copperbelt region to the northwest.
Culture
Once known as Northern Rhodesia, this former colony of Britain became the Republic of Zambia on 24 October 1964. The people of Zambia are descendants of many tribal groups that moved through and settled in the region over the last 700 years. Major tribal groups include the Bantu-speaking tribes, the Tonga people, the Nkoya, the Ksokolo, Ngoni and Sotho peoples. While English is the official language of the country, it is estimated there are 72 tribal languages spoken and 13 dialects that are counted as languages in their own right, bringing the total number of languages spoken to 85.
