In 1956, three doctors – Michael Wood, Archibald McIndoe and Tom Rees – drew up a groundbreaking plan to provide medical assistance to remote regions of East Africa, where they had all worked for many years as reconstructive surgeons.

Spurred by what they had seen of the combined effects of poverty, tropical disease and a lack of adequate health services in East Africa, their collective vision was born in the foothills Mt Kilimanjaro.

At that time, there was one doctor to every 30,000 people in East Africa – in Britain it was 1:1,000. Medical facilities were sparse, with rough terrain and often impassable roads making access to medical care difficult for people in rural and remote areas. As this was where the majority of the population lived, Archie, Tom and Michael saw an air-based service as the only way to get health care to remote communities.

OUR VISION
Lasting health change in Africa

OUR MISSION
We are committed to improving the health of people in Africa by partnering with and empowering communities, and strengthening health systems.

OUR PROMISE
Improve the lives of disadvantaged people in Africa through better health
Bridge gaps between communities, health systems and governments
Be a leading force for advocacy for health system reforms in Africa
Be a leader in the NGO community, developing and documenting best practices and training programs