Russian Helicopters Delivers First Ansat Ambulance Chopper to Zimbabwe, Eyes 50 more

An Ansat ambulance helicopter was handed over Zimbabwe as part of the visit of the Russian delegation to the African republic.

The delivered Ansat is the first step in the creation of medical aviation (service) in Zimbabwe. The country will need about 50 medical helicopters. And it is very likely that this will be a large-scale project of cooperation between Russia and Zimbabwe, a Russian Helicopters release said.

The ceremony of transferring medical equipment took place during the celebration of the 80th anniversary of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

“I want to say special thanks to the Russian Helicopters holding company for the creation and delivery of the first ambulance helicopter to us. In Africa, various natural disasters happen, the helicopter increases our ability to save lives,” said Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe.

“ I am sure that the cooperation of the Russian Helicopters holding company with the Republic of Zimbabwe will also be fruitful, and the transfer of the Ansat ambulance helicopter, which allows you to quickly evacuate patients, will be an important step in the development of the country's emergency services,” said Sergey Chemezov, General Director of Rostec State Corporation.

Andrey Perevedentsev, chief physician of the Russian National Air Ambulance Service. He told African colleagues about the possibilities of medical equipment, noting that the helicopter, in fact, is a "flying intensive care unit."

“The President of Zimbabwe has said that he wants to create air ambulance. This is a very important decision. And today the basis of the air ambulance, created in Africa, is the equipment produced in Russia. Our industry allows us to deliver this equipment in a timely manner,” said Alexander Kozlov, head of the delegation, Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation.