Ghana To Use Drones To Distribute Blood, Drugs – Dr Bawumia

Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has disclosed that government will soon utilize drone technology in the country by September, this year.

According to the Veep, government will use drones to distribute blood supplies and essential medicines to remote communities.

He disclosed that government will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with a health service provider this week to effect this initiative.

“By the grace of God; there are ongoing discussions, we are looking at innovative ways to deliver blood supplies as well as essential medicines to remote areas. As the rains come in, some areas are going to be cut off… Do we allow mothers to die because we can’t have blood supplies or essential medicines? Ghana this week will be signing an MOU and by the middle of this year or by September, we will join Malawi and Rwanda with using drone technology to deliver blood supplies and essential medicines. So we are going to do that this year.” He said.

Dr Bawumia was speaking at the opening of the Annual Health Summit organized by the Ministry of Health, in Accra.

The meeting which came off on Monday was on the theme: ‘‘Achieving Universal Health Coverage-Using Innovative Approaches’’.

Dr Bawumia explained that this is part of the government’s effort to ensure quality healthcare delivery.

‘‘We don’t have to allow our mothers to die because we can’t have blood supplies and essential medicines sent to them,’’ Dr Bawumia said.

He also said that the system of delivering blood supplies and essential drugs was being implemented in some African countries. He cited countries such as Malawi and Rwanda.