Community Report on the day’s activities in Chimanimani, with thanks to Doug van der Ruit.

First of all, a huge thank you to all, for unbelievable support. It brings tears to my eyes.

The plan on Monday was:
1. Get doctors to Mashonjowa
2. Air force to casavac serious patients to Mutambara Hospital.
3. Air Force to collect doctors from Mashonjowa and take to places of need. With meds.
3. Fly Bob Henson’s helicopter along roads to establish which is best route to tackle.

Unfortunately this is actually what happened.
Really disappointing and very, very frustrating.
1. Met with Air force, discussed plan of action, everyone happy.
2. Bob Henson arrived in his Robinson, with doctor and meds. Much relief.
3. Weather was a little dodgy, but decided to go anyway. Plan to fly in formation with Air Force with casavac patients to Mutambara at their request then see if any doctors arrived to take them to where they are needed. Sadly, this didn’t happen because of a fault with their helicopter, so we flew off without patients deciding to go ahead with recce roads. Air Force later flew off to Chipinge, without any patients.
4. Flew road to Chipinge then to Mashonjowa. Nobody there yet, flew on to Mutambara to collect more meds from them for doctor in Chimanimani. Checked out Wengezi to Skyline road…pretty stuffed, especially near the top. Several bridges down. Picked more meds from guys at Skyline and flew home.
5. Went to Command Center and informed authorities what we did, and what we plan to do.

Tomorrow’s (today) plan is:
1. Presuming Air Force is not around, collect doctors from top of Skyline and take them to where they are needed along with meds.
2. Do more road flying, especially old Chipinge road. I didn’t think about this earlier, but it is a good option, because it bypasses Skyline, but will need lots of work.
3. If Air Force is back, try to get them to move doctors and casavac work. Actually they have been a disappointment.

For the other teams, I would like to suggest carry on as planned. Before work starts on Skyline, we need to fly old Chipinge Road.
The cyclists, please recce the following roads into the Biriwiri area, Chikwizi, Mhakwe, Shinga. Any road that comes from Nyanyadzi side into Biriwiri area. The people there need help, and we cannot access from Chimanimani side.
Brett and his team to establish base camp at top of Skyline.

That’s about all.

Just heard fantistic news from Ed Mordt at Air Exec. Strive is paying for big helicopter, with one tonne capacity. I cannot tell how much difference this will make. If it happens, it will be exactly what we need and will save lives.
I am sorry for not replying to many WhatsApps, but I am snowed under and I know there is so much capability out there. Thank you so much again.