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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/apr/25/medical-delivery-drones-cleared-for-takeoff-in-ghana-zipline
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| Vaccines by air as drone medicine service takes off in Ghana | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Twelve million people in Ghana are set to benefit from the launch of the world’s largest drone medical delivery service. | Twelve million people in Ghana are set to benefit from the launch of the world’s largest drone medical delivery service. |
| Up to 600 drone flights will be made each day, delivering vaccines, blood supplies and life-saving medicines to 2,000 health centres in remote areas around the country. | Up to 600 drone flights will be made each day, delivering vaccines, blood supplies and life-saving medicines to 2,000 health centres in remote areas around the country. |
| The service will operate out of four hubs, each hosting 30 drones, designed by Zipline, a California-based robotics company. | The service will operate out of four hubs, each hosting 30 drones, designed by Zipline, a California-based robotics company. |
| Ghana’s president, Nana Akufo-Addo, who officially inaugurated the new drone network at a ceremony in Omenako, said the service “represents a major step towards giving everyone in this country universal access to life-saving medicine”. | Ghana’s president, Nana Akufo-Addo, who officially inaugurated the new drone network at a ceremony in Omenako, said the service “represents a major step towards giving everyone in this country universal access to life-saving medicine”. |
| “No one in Ghana should die because they can’t access the medicine they need in an emergency,” said Akufo-Addo. | “No one in Ghana should die because they can’t access the medicine they need in an emergency,” said Akufo-Addo. |
| The new drone service was initially met with concern. Critics argued that in a country where, according to the BBC, 55 ambulances serve a population of 29 million people, money should instead be spent on improving current health facilities, including clinics and ambulances. | The new drone service was initially met with concern. Critics argued that in a country where, according to the BBC, 55 ambulances serve a population of 29 million people, money should instead be spent on improving current health facilities, including clinics and ambulances. |
| The Ghana Medical Association called for the drone project to be suspended and tested on a trial basis first, claiming it would not help to tackle health service problems. | The Ghana Medical Association called for the drone project to be suspended and tested on a trial basis first, claiming it would not help to tackle health service problems. |
| But Ghana’s government granted Zipline $12m (£9.5 million) to run the project for four years after the initiative was approved in parliament by 102 votes to 58. | But Ghana’s government granted Zipline $12m (£9.5 million) to run the project for four years after the initiative was approved in parliament by 102 votes to 58. |
| Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the vaccine alliance, which is supporting Zipline’s work, said: “The ability of the government to supplement routine immunisation on demand will allow us to make sure that there will always be enough life-saving vaccines for every child in Ghana.” | Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the vaccine alliance, which is supporting Zipline’s work, said: “The ability of the government to supplement routine immunisation on demand will allow us to make sure that there will always be enough life-saving vaccines for every child in Ghana.” |
| Zipline first introduced their drones in Rwanda in 2016, where they have since made 13,000 deliveries. One-third of these were to patients in a critical condition, when urgent access to supplies was a matter of life and death. | Zipline first introduced their drones in Rwanda in 2016, where they have since made 13,000 deliveries. One-third of these were to patients in a critical condition, when urgent access to supplies was a matter of life and death. |
| Malawi starts landmark pilot of first ever child malaria vaccine | Malawi starts landmark pilot of first ever child malaria vaccine |
| A health centre can request supplies via text message, with packaging and delivery taking an average of 30 minutes, according to Zipline. | A health centre can request supplies via text message, with packaging and delivery taking an average of 30 minutes, according to Zipline. |
| Each drone can carry a load of 1.8kg, which it releases with a parachute once it descends to a safe height. | Each drone can carry a load of 1.8kg, which it releases with a parachute once it descends to a safe height. |
| The company’s engineers include aerospace veterans from SpaceX and Nasa. | The company’s engineers include aerospace veterans from SpaceX and Nasa. |
| Following the opening of a second Rwanda distribution centre in 2018 and expansion into Ghana, the drone technology now serves 22 million people across the two countries. | Following the opening of a second Rwanda distribution centre in 2018 and expansion into Ghana, the drone technology now serves 22 million people across the two countries. |
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