Drones to start delivering medical supplies
Kampala- Government has approved, as safe for use, medical drones procured by Infectious Disease Institute (IDI) to deliver essential medical supplies to hard-to-reach places.
Medical drones will deliver the first batch of ARVs in March next year to Kalangala District, according to Dr Martin Balaba, the head of new and emerging technologies at IDI.
Dr Balaba made this revelation on Tuesday during the ICT exhibition event in Kampala.
He said this is not a luxurious venture.
“Medical drones’ project aims at overcoming geographical barriers with technology. For instance, there are seasons where the winds are too fierce that boats cannot wade through yet we depend on them to deliver ARVs to health facilities in islands such as Kalangala,” he said.
Dr Balaba said this means that thousands of people living with HIV/Aids will easily access lifesaving medication.
He further reasoned that moving medical supplies to areas with Ebola have also been another problem as drivers fear for their life.
Dr Balaba said employing the drones will save more lives as drugs and first aid supplies from central points such as Kampala can reach the affected people or areas timely.
“We shall also use the drones to deliver blood to and from health facilities,” he said.
During disasters, Dr Balaba said, drones can be positioned to survey damages and locate stranded and injured victims.
Besides being used in surveillance and weather monitoring, drones are also used in traffic monitoring and updates.
Dr Balaba added that drones can be used to great effect in reduction of costs.
“Drones are relatively cheaper, faster and more reliable in the long run compared to existing means of transport,” he said.
Dr Balaba said the medical drones are already in Uganda only awaiting security approval from the police and army.
He, however, said IDI is first educating people about this technology and involving local leaders to make it successful.
Half of world’s population lacks access to essential health services, according to World Health Organisation. About 75 per cent of people living with HIV/Aids, who need antiretroviral therapy, have no access to these drugs in low-income countries that Uganda is part.
