Togo, a West African nation on the Gulf of Guinea, is known for its palm-lined beaches and hilltop villages. The capital of Togo is Lome with estimated population of about 7,351,374 as at 2014. Some major cities in Togo includes Atakpame, Sokode and Kara. Major international airport in the country is Tokoin International Airport.
HEALTH SECTOR
Estimates for this country take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS, which results in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, and lower population growth rates than otherwise expected. According to the WHO, every 30 seconds a child dies of malaria. The African Region is the most effected by malaria and accounts for about 86% of the estimated 247 million cases of malaria worldwide in 2006 and 91 % of the malaria deaths in the same year. In Togo, 25 % of all deaths of children fewer than five are malaria related and 791,000 malaria-death related cases were reported in 2001.
The number of estimated deaths in Togo dues to tuberculosis is 9,058 in 2007, and the tuberculosis death rate is 138/100,000 population. The tuberculosis incidence per 100,000 populations has been increasing steadily over the past 20 years, raising alarming concerns among the population and health entities over the world. Shortage of qualified health workers and supplies, equipment, and drugs limits ability of health facilities to provide effective services. Lack of good emergency facilities and medico logistics services makes it difficult to save more lives from the country. Air ambulances are not easily accessible and seen from these locations.
AIR AMBULANCES SERVICES
The Flying Doctors Nigeria offers Air Ambulance/Medevac services across West and Central Africa. However, our aircraft’s are based in Nigeria. We classify an air ambulance evacuation as regional when the patient does not leave the West African/Central African region. Occasionally we use helicopters to undertake these types of transfers. However air ambulance jets or Emergency Transport Unit (ETU, a medical cabin on commercial aircraft) is used. We have French speaking staffs that have excellent local knowledge of the area which makes language not a barrier a problem at all.
RESPONSE TIME
Our response time immediately after an emergency call is between 60 to 90 minutes from activation time. We have our base at the International airport in Lagos and we are able to operate from Abuja International airport as well. This makes it a lot easier for us to respond quickly to emergency cases.
For more information on our aeromedical services, visit our website www.flyingdoctorsnigeria.com or email us at sales@flyingdoctorsnigeria.com
