Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, has given a new timeline for the implementation of government’s promise to use drones to deliver essential services to deprived communities.
Government had initially stated at the 2018 Annual Health Summit held in April, that the delivery system will begin in September.
However, the Vice President at a forum organised by the Africa Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET) on Thursday, stated that the move will take off next year.
The Vice President further stated that government will use technology to make lives better for Ghanaians.
“By early 2019, we will be joining Rwanda in using drones to deliver critical medical products. Blood products, medical cargo, emergency vaccines, life saving and other essential medicines on demand to every part of the country regardless of the terrain or road infrastructure.”
The Vice President made a similar promise a few months ago at the Annual Health Summit, following which the government signed a Memorandum of Understanding to that effect.
Although Dr. Bawumia did not give details about the arrangement, he emphasized that the government was keen on introducing other innovations to boost the country’s health sector.
Rwanda is among the few African countries working with US-based automated logistics firm, Zipline International Inc, to deliver blood and vaccines by drone on demand to patients including women in labour in rural communities.
This is reported to have saved thousands of women from death as a result of bleeding during childbirth.
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Source: Citinewsroom.com/Ghana
