Zipline Drones Deliver Medical Supplies In Kaduna State

The commercial delivery of medical supplies using drones to healthcare facilities in Kaduna State started on Wednesday by the rapid logistics business Zipline.

Deliveries to Galadimawa HC and Kauru LGA, among other institutions were made successfully, according to a statement from Zipline Nigeria's General Manager Catherine Odiase.

Odiase said that the healthcare facilities were among many Kaduna medical facilities that were slated to be integrated into Zipline's logistics infrastructure for the quick distribution of healthcare.

She expressed her appreciation to the regulatory bodies for their successful efforts that resulted in the start 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 supporting 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 affirmed that Zipline was prepared to work with governments to guarantee that everyone in the nation has access to fundamental healthcare delivery services.

She said that Zipline's drone delivery technology is committed to increasing global access to goods.

Zipline Drone Delivery

According to Odiase, the business has proven through time that it is capable of collaborating with governments and health systems to improve the accessibility and efficiency of health supply chains.

The distribution centre, which is situated in Pambegua, Kaduna state, was the country's first hub to be established in order to assist the government in distributing medical supplies to the state's hospitals.

She revealed that Zipline has been working with the aviation regulatory authorities to complete the necessary licences to operate these autonomous aerial vehicles in Kaduna since it commissioned the distribution centre in June 2022.

Odiase said the start of commercial flights was made possible by the smooth completion of the approval formalities.

“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 claimed that Zipline is also capable of delivering other goods, such as e-commerce items and vaccines for animal health.

According to Odiase, the business has proven through time that it is capable of collaborating with governments and health systems to improve the accessibility and efficiency of health supply chains.

In addition to national-scale operations in Ghana and Rwanda, she said that Nigeria was the third African nation to employ Zipline services, with operations in Kenya and Cote d'Ivoire still to be introduced.

“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.

After the planned delivery of the vaccines to the facility, Chongfilawos Irimiya, a member of the Galadimawa PHC medical team, expressed his gratitude to Zipline for the prompt delivery.