Matt and Becki Dillingham

 Ledadaky and the Dahalo

On Monday, a call came in asking for a medevac from Ankavandra. The details were a little hazy but we knew it was for a gunshot victim, with the bullet having travelled through the mouth. The man would be accompanied by some family members but we were unsure if any medical staff would be available to join the flight. Having a doctor on board means they can inform us if there are any complications that would stop us flying or restrict our altitude to maintain constant air pressure. God's timing is perfect and just as the Caravan was being prepared for the flight, in walked Dr Sylvain - a doctor who regularly joins us for our “Medical Safaris”. Thankfully he was willing to come along for the ride! This was a double blessing as he could also act as a translator in a region where little French is spoken.

The river between Ankavandra and the airfield

  Flying to Ankavandra, which is 144 miles from Tana, took 52 minutes. Located beside the river at the base of the high plateau, the area looked beautiful as we flew in. In the hot, dusty conditions on the ground it was a different story. Ankavandra is located in one of the 'zones rouges', where police and security are scarce and the Dahalo (cattle thieves) roam freely. The larger groups of Dahalo have assault rifles to protect their herds of stolen cattle. Ledadaky had fallen foul of the Dahalo that day. The bullet knocked out his bottom teeth and left a path of destruction from his cheek, down his neck. He had been carried to the village of Ankavandra, where his face was patched up and then a further 3 miles to the airstrip on the other side of the river.

Armed men, protection for carrying money

Ledadaky being assisted to walk to the plane

Ledadaky, his family members and some armed men (protection as they were carrying money for the flight and hospital fees) arrived at the airfield. Ledadaky's family then boarded the aircraft with some cooking pots and bags of rice that they had brought with them, and Josh strapped Ledadaky into the on-board stretcher. Your family must provide food for you while you stay in hospital and rice is more expensive here than where they live in the bush, so they came prepared! We flew back to Tana, arriving shortly before sunset and the patient was soon strapped into the waiting ambulance and taken to hospital.

Strapped into the Cessna 208 ready for the flight to Antananarivo

On the ground at Ivato Airport, Antananarivo

The journey to the ambulance was nice and short