Stakeholders and healthcare professionals in Bayelsa State, South-south Nigeria, have lauded the efficiency of the drone services deployed to supply drugs and other medical consumables to hospitals across the state.
In 2022, the state government entered into a partnership with a logistics delivery company, Zipline, to enhance preservation of crucial cold-chain medications, and expand the distribution of essential medical supplies to remote health facilities across the state.
Meanwhile, checks showed that the initiative facilitated more than 13,500 deliveries of medical supplies, and 537,000 doses of vaccines to 210 health facilities in the state.
Head of Clinical Services at Kolo General Hospital in Ogbia Local Government Area, Dr Opukumo Alexandra, said the drone services are an innovation designed to improve response to the health needs of rural dwellers.
He said, “I can say that drone is the best technology so far because if you should look for any item that is not available, probably, maybe you go to the market to look for it and it’s not there, you can get it from Zipline. As you place a phone call, they fly the consumables across to you.
“Zipline has rendered so many services that we can’t over-emphasize. They respond quickly whenever you place a request.”
