The Government of Ghana yesterday, April 23, 2019 did the first delivery of medical supplies to the New Tafo Government Hospital in the Eastern Region by drone.
The Hospital marks the first to receive emergency medical supplies from Zipline’s drone delivery network in the country, ahead of its official launch today, Wednesday’s April 24, 2019.
According to reports, items of the first drone delivered were polio vaccines for newborns and yellow fever vaccines for children from seven years and above.
The test flight process was carried out at the first emergency medical distribution centre at Omenako in the Eastern Region.
Per reports, it normally takes about 3hours to get products delivered by vehicle however, it took the drone 30 minutes to deliver the product.
Patients in an interview with Starr News, expressed satisfaction with the test flight process and delivery of the first package
”I think its a good initiative because sometimes we are told there are no donors to donate blood in the hospital and when you go to the blood bank you are told no blood is available. This initiative could save the lives of other relatives even if not mine”.
The drones, however will not replace the existing supply chain. They will specialize in handling emergency stock out situations.
Ghana’s emergency medical drone delivery service aims to save millions of Cedis by eliminating the need for expensive emergency trips to pick up the product, and by avoiding wasteful overstocking of product at health facilities.
This revolutionary healthcare service will help save lives, decrease waste in the system and increase healthcare access for more than 14 million people nationwide.
The drones will operate 24 hours a day from 4 distribution centres across the country. The first distribution centre will be located near Suhum. The sites for the remaining 3 will be finalized by Ghana Health Service (GHS), but are expected to cover much of the country.
StephanieHorsu/techvoiceafrica.com
Source:primenews.com
