The world's largest medical drone delivery service takes off in Ghana

General News on Thursday, April 25, 2019

Source: Myjoyonline.com

2019-04-25

Vice President Mamahudu Bawumia on Wednesday launched the first-ever medical drone delivery service in Ghana and the world's largest drone delivery network in Omenako, near Suhum in the eastern region.

The "Fly-To-Save-A-Life Project", a collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Zipline Technologies, will provide a rapid response to medical emergencies, especially in hard-to-reach areas, through the launch of unmanned drones 12 routine and emergency services, as well as 148 essential medical products selected by the Ministry of Health.

The Omenako Service Center, the first of four planned centers, will supply these products to facilities located throughout the Eastern Region and in parts of the Volta, Ashanti, Central and Great Accra. Three more centers are expected to be completed this year to cover most of Ghana.

The service will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Each center will be 100% Ghanaian engineers, health professionals and logisticians, and privately funded as part of its corporate social responsibility obligations at no cost to the government.

Nearly a year after raising the possibility of setting up a medical UAV service in Ghana, a delighted Vice President, Bawumia, said that the successful launch of this service is another example of the triumph of innovation, especially in technology, defended by the government Nana Akufo-Addo.

Vice President Bawumia was particularly pleased that such an innovation is being applied to improve the access of disadvantaged and hard-to-reach communities to health care as it is part of the government's strategy. to reduce inequalities and difficulties by ensuring the inclusion of every Ghanaian, regardless of his or her status. in national development.

"One of the most important pillars of this government has been knowing how to develop this country without leaving anyone behind. l & # 39; inclusiveness. In particular, we are working on how to use technology to advance our development, improve the way we work in our offices and how to improve citizens' access to the public services they need, wherever they are needed. ;they live. in this country.

"President Nana Akufo-Addo is committed to reducing inequities and hardships for all Ghanaians, especially the most disadvantaged. That's why we implement Free SHS. This decision informed the government's decision to increase by 50% the share of people living with disabilities affected by the common district bademblies.

That's why we reinstated the training allowances for nurses and teachers canceled by the previous government, created the Zongo Development Fund and built dams in northern Ghana through the One Village One Dam, to guarantee agriculture all year long.

"As you know, we have abolished postgraduate medical training fees in Ghana, we have set up the three development authorities – coastal, central and northern – and you can now renew your national health insurance through your phone. Soon, in collaboration with the National Identification Authority, Ghanaians could register, renew and access health services using the Ghana Card, "said Vice President Bawumia.

In focusing on health care, Vice President Bawumia lamented the preventable deaths due to the lack or timely availability of various vaccines, blood products and life-saving medicines, and congratulated the Ministry of Health and its partners for successful launch of the Fly program. -To-Save-A-Life Project to save lives in Ghana.

"It is also important to note, however, that it is not a replacement of existing programs, but a compliment. In July of this year, the government will receive the 275 ambulances already purchased to strengthen the health care delivery system and make emergency treatment more effective, "he said.

Zipline The project has already attracted the attention of the international community and major players such as Pfizer, Novartis, GAVI, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and UPS have already committed Zipline to deliver medicine and other supplies to Ghana using drones.

Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin II; Minister of Health and Deputy of Dormaa Central, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu; Keller Rinaudo, CEO of Zipline International; Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare, Director General, Ghana Health Service; Dr. Kwabena Twum-Nuamah, Chairman of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Health; Eric Kwakye Darfuor, Minister of Eastern Region, and other senior government and health officials.