The Parliamentary Select Committee on Health has paid a working visit to Zipline Ghana’s Drone Medical Services Delivery services at Anum, a community located in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region, to familiarize itself with the Zipline operations.
The delegation was led by the Member of Parliament for the Effiduase-Asokore Constituency and Chairperson for the committee, Dr Nana Ayew Afriye and Alhaji Hafiz Adam, Chief Director of the Ministry of Health.
Mr Mawuli Atiemo, General Manager of Zipline, said the centre has about 30 drones that serve the Volta region and parts of the Eastern region.
The Country Leader for Health System Integration, Mr Kwasi Owusu Antwi, took the committee members through the operations of the company’s three main divisions; the Medical Supply Storage, the Packaging Unit and the Drone Launching Unit.
During the tour, Mr Owusu Antwi said the drones deliver medical supplies such as blood, antenatal drugs, child vaccines and anti-snake venoms to public health facilities, including CHPS Compounds in the regions.
“Anum Zipline currently has delivered 46,516 vaccines and emergency products to 378 direct health facilities in the two regions,” he added.
He disclosed that the company works directly with the Regional Medical Stores (RMS), National Blood Service Supply (NBSS) and the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), supplying them with medical products, blood products and vaccines for distribution.
Zipline demonstrated how deliveries are done with the drones and also mentioned the successes and challenges it faces in medical deliveries.
The Chairman of the Committee, Dr Afriye commended Zipline-Anum for ensuring that there is equity in healthcare delivery.
Grace Acheampong, ISD
