Zipline activates drone services in Afram Plains, Kete Krachi and Volta Region

Residents and health workers in medical facilities within the Volta and the Oti regions and others within Afram Plains and other riverine communities have heaved a sigh of relief as medical supplies have been primed to reach them faster than before, courtesy Zipline.

At a ceremony to witness the delivery of medical commodities via the Zipline medical drone system, the General Manager of Zipline, Naa Adorkor Yawson, disclosed that the company has so far operationalized six distribution centres country-wide and serves over 2,000 health facilities.

Mrs. Yawson said the plan of Zipline, with the operationalization of their newest centers in Anum and Kete Krachi, is to fast track the dispensing of health care by providing prompt responses in the form of medicine delivery in emergency and non-emergency situations with the aim of supporting the efforts of government in creating access to basic health needs.

“We are delivering live-saving interventions in the form of medications and medical supplies to areas that have since time immemorial reported challenges of shortage of medications and lack of requisite medical supplies. We aim to reach the pinnacle where health practitioners and patients are rest assured that no matter the circumstance, they will not be deprived of the necessities needed to ensure the sustenance of life.”

Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who graced the occasion said it is important that with growing calls around the world for countries to prioritize innovative means of administering healthcare in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, government takes steps to lessen the challenge of access and provide a more robust system of medical supply delivery that is sustainable and transformative.

He stated that in view of this, several efforts have been implemented to align hospitals, CHPS compound, Clinics and Polyclinics with digital transformations to help roll out government interventions in the health sector.

Dr. Bawumia added that it is the vision of the government to deploy technological innovations to solve our everyday challenges, especially in health.

“How we are able to improve life expectancy and keep a nation healthy to increase our workforce, drive economic growth, development and prosperity requires a lot of health investments. We cannot expect to achieve sustained life when access to medical healthcare is a preserve of a few. We need access to be open for everybody in order to achieve this,” Dr. Bawumia said.