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Almost a year after the launch of the second medical drone distribution center in Mpanya in the Ashanti region, President Akufo-Addo has commissioned Zipline’s fourth medical drone distribution center, in Sefwi Wiawso in the west-north region.
According to President Akufo-Addo, “The launch of the fourth medical drone distribution center is part of our broader commitment to expand the reach of this service and ensure that we leave no one behind in accessing essential medicines. With this, it means that we now have the largest medical drone delivery service in the world. “
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Thursday, September 24, 2020, the President stated that while some political actors went so far as to make unfortunate and ill-considered statements about drones, the people of Ghana can see how shocking this service has been, simply within the last eighteen months of its operations.
“I have been told that some 120,000 medical products have been delivered to various health establishments throughout the country from the various distribution centers.
“With the launch of this fourth center in Sefwi Wiawso, Zipline will be able to serve some 2,000 health facilities within reach,” he said.
Citing the example of Charles Coffie, a 44-year-old driver from the Eastern Region, for example, who was saved with an emergency supply of blood products after suffering severe bleeding during an operation, the President stated that “this is the kind of impact we are talking about ”.
He also noted that in the early days of the country’s fight against Covid-19, medical drones were used to speed up the transport of samples to laboratory centers across the country.
“We have also heard very positive stories from health professionals from the various health facilities that benefit from this project. These testimonies point to one thing: we cannot afford to play politics with everything in this country, ”he said.
The president added: “The incessant politicization of all issues does not give credence to Ghana’s public life. When Zipline is called to supply blood products during emergency situations, it does not ask if the recipient is an NPP or NDC member before doing so. Health, like many other aspects of our national life, does not know the colors of the party. “
With the commissioning of the fourth distribution center, Zipline now has the capacity to serve approximately 2,000 healthcare facilities within reach.
The president was excited that the Ghana Ministry of Health and Health Service and other key stakeholders have already started discussions with Zipline about the possibility of expanding drone services to other disadvantaged and hard-to-reach communities.
