An instant logistics company, Zipline, on Wednesday, commenced commercial deliveries of medical commodities through its unmanned aerial vehicles, otherwise called drones, to health facilities within Kaduna State.
The General Manager of Zipline Nigeria, Ms Catherine Odiase, said in a statement that deliveries had been successfully made to Galadimawa HC, Kauru LGA among other facilities.
Odiase said the health facilities were among several medical centres in Kaduna earmarked to be rolled into Zipline’s logistics platform for the speedy dispensing of healthcare.
She commended the regulatory authorities for the fruitful engagements leading to the commencement of flight operations.
“The company is pleased to have received the necessary regulatory approval to be able to support the health needs of the community.
“Our technology has proven to be a great resource in helping governments to achieve access to universal healthcare.
“We remain committed to support the Kaduna state government in meeting its target through efficient delivery of medical commodities and other products as will be agreed, to all parts of the state.
“The commodities will be delivered within 40 minutes or less from our distribution hub,’’ she said.
She pledged the readiness of Zipline to continue to partner with governments to ensure no one in the country was left behind in access to basic healthcare delivery services.
According to her, Zipline’s drone delivery system is dedicated to expanding access to goods around the globe.
Odiase said that over the years, the company had demonstrated its ability to work with governments and health systems to transform health supply chains to be accessible and work more effectively.
She said that the distribution centre, located in Pambegua, Kaduna state, was the first hub to be opened in Nigeria to support the government’s effort to send medical logistics to health facilities within the state.
According to her, since Zipline commissioned the distribution hub in June 2022, it has been working with the aviation regulatory authority to finalise the required approvals to operate these autonomous aerial vehicles in Kaduna.
Odiase said the successful completion of approval processes paved way for the start of commercial flights.
“The first of three distribution hubs of Zipline to be sited in Kaduna has the capacity of delivering medical supplies to over 500 health facilities within 80km radius at a speed of 110kmphr,’’ she said.
She said that Zipline also has the capacity to deliver other products including animal health vaccines and e-commerce products.
Odiase said that over the years, the company had demonstrated its ability to work with governments and health systems to transform health supply chains to be accessible and work more effectively.
She said that Nigeria was the third African country to use Zipline services, following national-scale operations in Ghana and Rwanda with operations in Kenya and Cote d’Ivoire yet to be launched.
“The company has made more than 370,897 commercial deliveries containing more than five million units of vaccines and other medical products to facilities,’’ she said.
Speaking after the scheduled delivery of vaccines to the facility, Chongfilawos Irimiya, a medical staff at Galadimawa PHC, appreciated Zipline for efficient delivery.
Irimiya said the delivery had eased being in the bush and cut off stress of getting to the apex centres to get the vaccines.
