'Kenya's Next Move' As the Ministry Of Health Plan To Introduce Drones To Use In Medical Supply

‘Kenya’s Next Move’ As the Ministry Of Health Plan To Introduce Drones To Use In Medical Supply

Post by : Hillary Musyoki

Next step for heath facilities as they will soon be able to have timely access to essential medical supplies.

The Ministry of Health’s new plan seeks to partner with NARMA INC to improve the means of delivering medical supplies in rural places in Kenya.

NAMRA INC is a Korea Aerospace Research institute, that develops world-standard delivery drones.

The PS, state Department for public health and professional standards, Dr. Josephine Mburu hosted officials from the company to discuss area of collaboration.

Photo// Kenya’s Drone Delivery. used to transport medical supplies. Photo Courtesy

“The project will use drone technology to deliver life saving medical supplies such as anti-venom, blood and more.” the ministry said

The counties to be tested on are Machakos, Makueni, and Tharaka Nithi, with approximately 300 flights planned.

Mburu said that the ministry will provide guidance through appropriate policy regulations.

Several counties have been testing using the drones to deliver the medical supplies.

Uasin Gishu is one of the counties that started early this month to test drones to transport medical supplies in the region.

Drones

Photo// Kenya’s first ever drone delivery. Photo Courtesy

The drones will not only be used to transport medical supplies, they will also be used to collect medical samples under a new deal implemented by ElsMed Healthcare Solutions of Israel to boost services at heath facilities in the country.

The drones used are 3m-long in size, weigh 25Kg and have rechargeable batteries, they can also fly at night at 80km/hr. when carrying capacity weight.

In January Kisumu Conducted a test flight for the first drone delivery.

The drone only took 3 minutes to deliver the drugs whereas the same drug would have been delivered in 30minutes by road.