AMREF Flying Doctors East Africa’s leading provider of air evacuation services has once again been named as one of three finalists in the 2021 International Travel & Health Insurance Journal´s (ITIJ) Industry Awards – Air Ambulance Company of the Year category.

This is the 19th annual ITIJ Awards and marks the fourth nomination for AFD after what has been an exceptional year. This is a clear acknowledgement of the critical work AMREF Flying Doctors takes on while operating in some of the most challenging and harsh environments in the world.

This year´s winners will be revealed in Madrid on Thursday 4 November 2021, during the 29th Annual ITIC Global Conference.

Commenting on the nomination, Stephen Gitau, CEO AMREF Flying Doctors said: “We are delighted to have been named as a finalist in Air Ambulance Company of Year awards 2021. Despite the myriad challenges brought about by the pandemic, AFD has remained operational from day one, rapidly becoming the focal point for Covid and other medical transports in and out of Africa.

We have experienced a truly exceptional year so I am particularly pleased that our work has been recognised. I am immensely proud of the way our talented teams of professionals have been responding to the immense challenges of the pandemic. Additionally, AFD staff went out of their way to help with the Kenyan government’s vaccination efforts, all in addition to their usual air ambulance duties. I would like to congratulate them all for working round the clock to meet critical demands during this pandemic crisis and putting in a tremendous effort for the benefit of the patients who fly with us and our partners,” he added.

Since April 2020, AFD has transported over 450 Covid cases. Of these, over 250 were completed in 2021, with over 150 being critical cases, and 62% being for international insurance and assistance industry clients.

The ITIJ Air Ambulance Provider of the Year award is the most prestigious in the travel and health insurance industry and a global benchmark for international air ambulance operators. The award is voted by over 50,000 readers of the ITIJ journal, international stakeholders from the global travel and medical insurance industry, as well as air ambulance providers and presented during the annual International Travel Insurance Conference (ITIC).