East Africa in focus: Insights from the International Assistance Group

Held in Nairobi and extending across Nanyuki, Diani Beach and Mombasa, the connected events offered insight into how assistance is delivered in one of the world’s most visited and complex travel destinations.

East Africa is a major hub for international travel, humanitarian work and regional mobility. The region is also defined by distance and a growing private healthcare sector.

For assistance organisations, understanding what’s possible on the ground and how capability differs between countries and cities is critical to effective decision-making.

The connected events offered insight into how assistance is delivered in one of the world’s most visited and complex travel destinations

Forum: Africa in focus

The IAG Forum, ‘Exploring Assistance: Africa in Focus’, co-hosted by AMREF Flying Doctors, set the tone with expert speakers sharing local knowledge. Delegates heard from AMREF, HAC Medical, Phoenix Aviation, Assist 360 and the World Health Organization (WHO), each offering regional insights into the realities of delivering care across East Africa and the wider continent.

A highlight was the panel ‘Only in Africa – From Cape Verde to the Congo’, where IAG partners from Viscura, Assistance Plus Madagascar and MSO International discussed the operational differences between island states, remote wilderness regions and politically unstable environments.

IAG General Manager Louise Heywood said the panel highlighted how local challenges inform what care is possible across Africa.

“Capability in Africa is hyper-local, shaped by local conditions with logistics influencing outcomes as much as medical care,” she said.

The Forum also explored fraud trends, digital platform developments and the evolving role of technology in case coordination. Speed networking and small group discussions strengthened relationships across the network.

Medical Academy: Take Flight

The Take Flight Medical Academy, sponsored by Phoenix Aviation, also explored the operational realities of delivering medical assistance in Africa.

Designed for operational personnel, the annual Academy provides in-depth learning for future managers in the industry.

Delegates explored the systems and decision‑making frameworks that underpin high‑quality medical assistance in a region shaped by distance and fragmentation. They also shared ideas and worked through case management workshops.

Dr Joseph Lelo, Medical Director at AMREF Flying Doctors, outlined the four elements essential to safe transfers. These included accurate triage, the right destination, strong logistics and a clean handover. He highlighted AMREF’s aviation inspired governance model, where regular review, structured debriefs, EURAMI accreditation and a no blame reporting culture support continuous learning.

Delegates visited Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi Hospital and Phoenix Aviation’s facility for a clear view of Nairobi’s clinical capability and escalation pathways.

Roundtable discussions, including ‘Saving lives’, hosted by Dr Sharon Kay of MSO International, reinforced the importance of aeromedical evacuation and ground response in environments where resources can be unevenly distributed.

Thank you to local hosts AMREF, who hosted an incredible welcome function in their hanger with traditional dancing and supported planning for the Kenya EduTour and local facility visits. We also thank event sponsors Phoenix Aviation, New Frontier Group, AMA Global Assistance and Ice-Tech.

These events have shown how powerful it is to learn directly from the field, seeing how hospitals, clinics and aeromedical teams work day-to-day

EduTour Kenya: learn like a local

Following the Forum and Academy, 15 delegates from five IAG partner companies embarked on a five day EduTour across Kenya, visiting eight medical providers and covering more than 1,030km across Nairobi, Nanyuki, Diani Beach and Mombasa.

In Nanyuki, the group observed the realities of care in smaller regional centres, where stabilisation and onward referral are often the priority. Along the coast, visits to Diani Beach Hospital, Aga Khan’s outpatient clinic and Mombasa Hospital highlighted tourist driven case types, variable infrastructure and the importance of pre identified evacuation routes.

A defining feature of the EduTour is its emphasis on experiencing the patient journey. Time spent on the road, exposure to local logistics and movement between cities gave participants a clearer sense of the distances and delays that shape real world case management. Cultural experiences added context to the environments in which travellers fall ill or are injured.

“Seeing the hospitals we work with was especially valuable. It helped me understand the perspective of our insured clients,” one delegate said.

Following the Forum and Academy, 15 delegates from five IAG partner companies embarked on a five day EduTour across Kenya

Looking ahead

With travel to East Africa continuing to grow, Heywood said the need for accurate, local healthcare knowledge will only increase. “Every destination brings its own complexity,” she said.

“Our EduTours give partners the on-theground understanding they need to operate effectively in some of the world’s most challenging and highly visited regions. These events have shown how powerful it is to learn directly from the field, seeing how hospitals, clinics and aeromedical teams work day-to-day, and bringing this knowledge back to share with their operational teams improves case management.”

IAG will host its next EduTour in Thailand later this year, giving partners the chance to deepen their understanding of another fast moving regional health system.

EDUTOUR KENYA 2026: FACILITIES VISITED

NAIROBI

• Aga Khan University Hospital

• Nairobi Hospital

• Phoenix Aviation

NANYUKI

• Cottage Hospital DIANI BEACH/UKUNDA

Diani Beach Hospital

• Aga Khan Outpatient Clinic

MOMBASA

• Mombasa Hospital

• The Aga Khan Hospital

Distance covered: 1,030 km

Duration: five days