Photography by Vidar Nordli Mathisen

From the founding team of NLA

Norway is slightly bigger than Ghana in geographical size, but the total population is only 5 million. In spite of a somewhat high degree of urbanization, people are still scattered across the country with varying quality of infrastructural access to adequate health care facilities. In addition, Norway has significant activity along its rugged coastline, with a large number of permanent offshore oil & gas installations in addition to significant traffic from shipping and fishery. Getting access to quality and life saving medical treatment when time is of the essence, has hence been a challenge historically. To address these challenges, doctor and pioneer Mr Jens Moe founded the Norwegian Air Ambulance Service NLA in 1977. Back then, road infrastructure was poor in most rural areas, and timely access to medical care was a major challenge. The NLA was set up to bring emergency health care out to the patients wherever they were, and secure rapid transportation to high quality medical facilities while keeping the patient under continuous professional medical care. Today, the NLA is an essential and well-known part of the Norwegian health care ecosystem, with over 300 000 companies and individuals as supporting members.

The EHSI initiative stems from the original founders of the Norwegian Air Ambulance Service NLA.

Extensive experience

Two of the team members in the establishment of NLA were Ole R. Aronsen and Jan Marthinsen. They became Norwegian pioneers in their fields: Marthinsen as one of Norway’s first trained airborne rescue crew members, and Aronsen as an emergency helicopter pilot to some of Norway’s most inaccessible and demanding locations. Both of them now have some 30 years of experience from the fields of emergency healthcare and helicopter services.

Ole R Aronsen, who has lived and worked with emergency helicopter operations in Ghana the past 25 years, is the founder and chairman of EHSI, and Marthinsen is part of the core team in the company.

︎︎︎ Our team

Corporate Social Responsibility

From its inception EHSI has been aligned with the UN’s sustainability goals. EHSI's main role is to safeguard life and promote safe and trustworthy healthcare for everyone across the globe. EHSI has established its ESG policy and is committed especially with the following UN’s Sustainability Goals:

1. No Poverty
ESHI will bring jobs and training to the population of Ghana and will engage closely with schools and organizations to provide opportunities for the people.

3. Good Health and Well-Being
This is EHSI’s core business. The air ambulance service, hospital emergency care units and the operation all have one common goal: save lives and improve health.

4. Quality Education
EHSI has its own pilot training school (ATPLH + EMS) which is mirrored after the school in Torp Norway. We provide quality education for local pilots to EASA/FAA standards.

5. Gender Equality
EHSI is an equal opportunity employer and training institution. 

8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
ESHI will provide stable work for its employees. Our 5-year flight training is a comprehensive program where candidates get paid for flight hrs. and ample training. EHSI will provide jobs and secure economic growth locally and globally.

9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Providing service based on high Norwegian safety, quality and business standards will inspire local industries to develop. Air ambulance give access to people in rural areas despite challenging infrastructure.

10. Reduce Inequalities
Leaving ground and giving access to premium airborne emergency service for people in rural areas and those without license (often females), EHSI meets the goal for reducing inequalities.

16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
By contributing to Ghana's rapidly evolving healthcare systems, the EHSI service is a building block for building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions which is a key to stable societal structures.