Daniels Igoni
Stakeholders and healthcare professionals in Bayelsa State have lauded the efficiency of the drone services deployed to supply drugs and other medical consumables to hospitals across the state.
Speaking in separate interviews with journalists who visited some health facilities in Yenagoa and Ogbia local government areas of the state, they said it has helped to improve access to healthcare.
In 2022, the state government entered into a partnership with a logistics delivery company, Zipline, to enhance preservation of crucial cold-chain medications, and expand the distribution of essential medical supplies to remote health facilities across the state.
Meanwhile, checks showed that the initiative facilitated more than 13,500 deliveries of medical supplies, and 537,000 doses of vaccines to 210 health facilities in the state.
Head of Clinical Services at Kolo General Hospital in Ogbia Local Government Area, Dr Opukumo Alexandra, said the drone services are an innovation designed to improve response to the health needs of rural dwellers.
He said, “I can say that drone is the best technology so far because if you should look for any item that is not available, probably, maybe you go to the market to look for it and it’s not there, you can get it from Zipline. As you place a phone call, they fly the consumables across to you.
“Zipline has rendered so many services that we can’t over-emphasize. They respond quickly whenever you place a request.”
Also, the medical officer in charge of Otuokpoti Primary Health Centre in Ogbia Local Government Area, Ase Adiogbogbo, and the Immunization Officer at the Agudama-Ekpetiama Health Centre in the Yenagoa Local Government Area, Dr Agabugene Timineri, said the adoption of the technological innovation led to improvement in the state’s health system in terms of reducing the time of delivery of drugs and other medical consumables, which were mostly by road or boat.
They noted that receiving drugs and medicals via drones helps in prompt service delivery and ensures patients are adequately attended to, especially in emergencies.
Adiogbogbo said, “Just like immunisation, you know this is a rural hospital. We deal mostly with nursing mothers and there has been improvement in our healthcare delivery. Before now, sometimes, it takes a long time for the vaccine to get to us and we run out of stock. But now, there is no shortage of drugs.”
A nursing mother at the Otuokpoti Primary Health Centre, Elizabeth Akpo, said before the introduction of the drone services, some of her children could not be immunized as the clinic always complained of the unavailability of drugs due to accessibility challenges.
“But the situation is different now. My child gets vaccinated on any of her scheduled dates. Anytime I come, they attend to me quickly, no excuses again.
“I’m very happy with the recent healthcare attention I got in the hospital. The immunisation was fast and my baby has not experienced sicknesses like malaria, stooling and measles. They fly vaccines to the hospital from Yenagoa. We are very happy with it,” she added.
Copyright PUNCH
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]
