Dr. Bawumia Urges GNPC, Aker Energy, Newmont and Others to Support Ghana’s Medical Drone Project | Health

Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has urged Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, Ghana Gas, Aker Energy, Newmont Ghana and other corporate bodies to come together to support the medical drone initiative which is saving many lives, especially in the -to reach areas from Ghana.

Dr. Bawumia spoke during the commissioning of the third Zipline medical drone delivery site located in Vobsi in the Northeast Region West Mamprusi Township.

The cost of delivering medical products to the various healthcare facilities is paid by corporate entities inside and outside of Ghana, while Zipline and its partners also pay for the setup of the infrastructure, drones and all their software.

The vice president said that “the cost of this life-saving intervention does not fall directly on the shoulders of the government. Several organizations have already donated money to the fund dedicated to paying for Zipline’s shipping cost. I want to take this opportunity to extend my sincere appreciation to these corporate entities that are bearing the cost of this important innovation through their corporate social responsibility obligations. I encourage other companies like Ghana Gas, Ghana National Petroleum Corporation and others that have pledged their support to kindly redeem these commitments immediately. ”

Zipline Ghana CEO Daniel Marfo has announced that the company has completed construction of all four distribution sites in a record twelve-month period following the launch of the first site in April 2019. At full capacity, all four centers distribution will provide services to about two thousand health establishments.

Dr. Bawumia, however, directs the Ministry of Health to quickly ensure that for listing purposes, Zipline’s mandate is extended to build four additional sites that are required before all parts of the country can be adequately covered. “There are several health facilities in Upper West, Volta, Oti, Bono East and some other places along the coasts that this service must reach urgently,” he said.

Zipline’s services are in high demand today especially in the five northern regions that have been affected by the recent floods. Daily emergency medical deliveries from the Vobsi distribution site have skyrocketed from an average of fifty to ninety. Thus, the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Okoe Boye, seriously explains the importance of service to all those areas that are isolated as a result of the floods. “These, although they are just numbers, are actually real lives that are saved daily. Therefore, all of us, in government and outside of government, must give our full support to this project, as it is solving one of the critical needs in the provision of health services; rapid access to critical medical products, “he said.