GAMBIA—ARDA, a US-based drone tech startup, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Medical Research Council, The Gambia, has introduced the first-ever medical drone services in the country to resolve the country’s medical supply logistics challenges.
The medical drone, which started its maiden operations recently, saw the delivery of essential medical supplies from the Brikama Health Regional Office to the Gunjur Health facility in Kombo South in just 15 minutes.
The move is widely credited to be less cost-effective, efficient, and less time-consuming and is something that would greatly reduce the burden on the Ministry of Health.
Also, the introduction of these drone services would now ensure the timely delivery of medical supplies to the nearest health facilities in the country.
Speaking shortly after the departure of the medical drone at the Brikama Health Regional Office, Dr. Jeand’Arc Jarju Kujabi, Regional Director of Health Services at West Coast Region, commended ARDA Foundation and all partners for this latest technological development, which she said, would greatly reduce the burden on the Ministry.
Dr. Kujabi said, “The coming of this medical drone service is long overdue, and that it greatly changes the status quo as tech innovations take shape around the globe.”
Dr. Kujabi also added that the move shows that the country was not left behind in joining this latest digital system and, she expressed delight that the initiative has been piloted in the West Coast Region.
The regional health director urged her fellow Gambians to embrace this technological advancement, offering that it would go a long way in easing challenges in the transportation of medical items to various health centers across the country.
Dr. Kujabi also revealed that the Ministry of Health had encountered numerous challenges in terms of transporting medical items from one health center to another mainly due to traffic jams, and fuel, among others.
Dr. Kujabi added, “We at the level of the Regional Health office, welcome this technology with open hands. We need to take ownership of this medical drone and ensure its sustainability for the best interest of Gambians.”
She thus thanked the Ministry of Health, ARDA Foundation, and MRC among other development partners who are doing everything possible to make sure that Gambia has medical drone delivery services.
Bringing drone technology to the Gambia
Before the ARDA drone made its maiden trip to the West Coast Region, consultative meetings were held to lay the ground for the endeavor to succeed.
The Gambian Ministry of Health, Medical Research Council, and the Gambia Red Cross Society met with US company ARDA to discuss the introduction of medical drone delivery services in the country.
The meeting also involved other stakeholders from the Ministries of Interior and Defence, as well as representatives from the Gambian Armed Forces and State Intelligence Service.
The meeting addresses the purpose and objective of the program which seeks to pioneer the transformation of the Gambia’s public health supply chain and will have far-ranging impact.
Underlined, was that ARDA would conduct a five-week program to demonstrate the effectiveness and long-term sustainability of such a drone logistics service in the Gambia, with the aim of eventually offering delivery services to hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
Alasan Senghore, the secretary general of the Gambia Red Cross Society said ARDA deserves commendation for the initiative adding that ARDA was placing The Gambia at the forefront of technology.
“We are often left behind because we think that it is very complicated and not possible; but with collaboration, it is possible with bringing comparative advantages of institutions together, “added Senghore.
ARDA acknowledges that it’s creating the next generation of last-mile logistics by unlocking the transformative power of drone delivery for enterprises, all from a smartphone or tablet.
The drone tech company seeks to enable The Gambia to unlock the impact of drones for medical delivery as the most accessible, scalable, and safe solution to drone logistics.
“Drones are new technology, and we intend to enable Gambians to operate the drone and want them to be accessible,” said Shubh Malde, CEO of ARDA.
Medical drone logistics are becoming increasingly widespread across Africa – a continent with vast rural areas and challenging terrain.
Drone firm Zipline recently conducted a successful test flight in Kisumu County, Kenya, in February.
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