Bayelsa Govt. Partners Zipline, DrugStoc, others to expand medical access to rural areas through Drones. ••Gov. Diri tasks them on implementation

The Bayelsa State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with DrugStoc, Health Spaces, Sterling Bank and Zipline, forming a consortium to ensure sustainability and continuous availability of medical products within the value chain for distribution of drugs to the nooks and crannies of the State using drones.

The MoU, which was signed by the commissioner for health, Dr. Pabara Igwele, on behalf of the state government, representatives of DrugStoc, Health Spaces, Sterling Bank and Zipline, took place at Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa.

 

Introducing the consortium project, Divisional Head, Health, Education and Finance,  Sterling Bank PLC, Obinna Ukachukwu, said system is well tested across Africa and the United States, and described it as a giant step in expanding universal healthcare access in the country.

His words; Our system is well tested across

Africa and the United States, and there is no doubt that it is a giant step in expanding universal healthcare access in Nigeria.”

"Our membership and role in this consortium resounds our commitment to transforming

the healthcare sector in Nigeria; one partnership and project at a time”,

 

Mr Ukachukwu, assured the State government in the financing of the project, tagged Bayelsa health supply chain transformation to achieve set goals.

Also speaking, Senior Vice President for Zipline Africa, Dr. Daniel Marfo, who said as global leader in instant logistics, the agency’s partnership with Sterling and DrugStoc was aimed at leveraging Zipline’s drone technology to deliver essential medicines, blood and other medical commodities to health facilities within the state.

He said “This consortium, being led by Zipline, will ensure the availability of safe, quality and affordable drugs and medicines to all residents of the state in all its health facilities.

The Bayelsa signing follows Kaduna and Cross River states that have already signed onto the Zipline technology in Nigeria.”

“Zipline is pleased to partner with the people and Government of Bayelsa to advance instant, autonomous healthcare delivery across the state,” 

 Dr. Marfo, said with the agreement, Zipline will establish a distribution hub in the State for the introduction, operation, and maintenance of a just-in-time instant logistics solutions to ensure that essential drugs, blood and a selection of other life-saving medical supplies are available to the State health facilities.

While stressing that Zipline was committed to implementing the agreement, part of which entails building of a distribution hub from where to store and deliver the medical commodities and employ hundreds local team members from the State, he assured that Zipline will begin the construction process immediately so as to stay within the agreed timelines. 

Dr. Marfo, stressed that new service, which is expected to launch operations within six months from construction, was part of the State’s   bold vision of using drone delivery to establish universal, seven-days-a-week access to lifesaving and critical medicines for most of its citizens over the coming years. 

In remark,   State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Pabara Newton Igwele said the partnership was significant as it would complement the state government efforts in hitching up primary health care delivery services in the State.

Dr Igwele, who remarked  that leveraging technology for medical delivery would be a game changer for even distribution of medical commodities, said endorsing the MoU underscored the importance government attach to the well-being of its citizenry.

On his part, Chief Executive Officer, DrugStoc, Dr. Chibuzor Okpara, said the agency which partners with over 400 manufacturers plugged into ecosystem, will ensure that essential pharmaceuticals are available within the supply chain at the right time, right place, and quality, cost effectively to the people of the State.

Dr. Okpara, noted that Drugstoc will establish and operate a number of fulfillment and experience centers that will enable a more adaptive and responsive supply chain delivering essential medicines, and life saving healthcare supplies for the State.

“DrugStoc is excited to work with the people of Bayelsa to transform healthcare outcomes by working with partners to provide an end to end solution that will impact the

availability of life saving medicines and healthcare commodities in healthcare facilities across the State”.

 He  further stated that DrugStoc, would bring to bear the strength of its  relationships, experience and resources, garnered while working with over 3000 healthcare providers on its platform, to ensure that this project becomes a resounding success.

Earlier, Governor Douye Diri, said his administration remain committed to delivering an aggressive agenda of building a dependable health delivery system in the State, part of which has given birth to the partnership with the consortium of organization.

He said; "First I will like to appreciate and thank all of those who have put this together, the whole consortium of the State Government, Zipline, Sterling Bank and others who have worked assiduously over the period to put this together. 

This initiative will fill the gaps in our health sector and particularly in the supply chain of health facilities in our state. This program will alleviate the suffering of our people, particularly those in the rural areas, and those who can hardly have access to health facilities. 

Technology is fast taking over, and there is so much we can do with technology.

“ Drones are now used for health care delivery, security systems, and even for our electoral systems. Because of our unique terrain, this is one development that will assist our people in the far hinterland to benefit from the various health and management things that were put in place that they have been denied of over the years.

This will solve the issue of access, and greatly improve the health sector in Bayelsa."

Governor Diri, who stressed that the new service, which is expected to launch operations within six months from construction, was part of State government’s bold vision of using drone delivery to establish universal, seven-days-a-week access to lifesaving and critical medicines for most of its citizens over the coming years. 

The state chief executive charged them to go beyond signing the memorandum of understanding and ensure its actualization, saying if the project is  properly executed it would bridge the gap of untimely death as a result of non access to medical facilities across the State.

While stressing that the State government’s vision was for  Zipline to establish one distribution center, which is capable of covering most parts of the state, Governor Diri also hinted that government's goal was to 

put almost all of its citizens within minutes of a lifesaving medical delivery by drone