A company that uses drones to deliver medical supplies to remote areas where geographical barriers often hinder timely access, Zipline, has conducted its first delivery to St. Joseph’s Nyabondo Mission Hospital to enhance critical medical supplies, blood, and vaccines to improve regional patient care.
During the hospital’s launch, graced by President William Samoei Ruto, Zipline demonstrated its capabilities with a live drone delivery from Chemilil to the newly opened facility. The delivery showcased the efficiency and reliability of drone technology in overcoming logistical challenges, particularly in regions where uneven geographical landscapes may hinder timely access to essential medical supplies.
“Over the one and a half years since our partnership with Zipline, they have completed over 10,000 flights to Kisumu County facilities, with approximately 40 per cent of these delivering emergency supplies,” said Dr Ganda Gregory, Minister for Health, County Government of Kisumu.
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“This partnership has significantly improved the response time of health facilities and overall increased patient outcomes.”
Traditionally, medical supplies, including blood, vaccines and essential medications, would take hours to reach remote healthcare facilities, often traveling through difficult roads and unpredictable weather conditions. These delays could mean the difference between life and death, especially in emergencies where time is of the essence. With Zipline’s autonomous drone delivery technology, delivery times are drastically reduced from hours to minutes. This improvement is expected to impact patient outcomes in Nyandondo and similar regions profoundly.
“A lot of our facilities were cut off by floods during the heavy rainy season, making the delivery of emergency supplies extremely challenging,” said Dr Kizra Syed, Head of Digital Health Transformation, Kisumu County.
Drones have been successfully used in countries like Rwanda, Ghana, and the United States to help reduce delivery times from hours to minutes, proving crucial in saving lives. As Zipline’s presence grows in Kenya, the integration of drone technology in healthcare delivery is poised to transform the landscape of medical access in rural areas.
“Our mission is to ensure that no one is left behind when it comes to accessing life-saving medical supplies. By bringing our technology to St. Joseph’s Nyabondo Mission Hospital, we are improving healthcare delivery and setting a new standard for how technology can be integrated into healthcare systems across Africa,” Sarah Gatuka, Government Affairs Manager of Zipline Kenya, said.
Ms Gatuka said the initiative will inspire similar collaborations across the region, promoting sustainable and equitable access to healthcare.
