Zipline, an American company with a specialization in delivering medical products recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Kaduna State, to majorly take step towards reversing the losses of life to COVID-19, which has cost the state 57 lives as of Saturday, February 6.
Kaduna State Signs MoU with Zipline to Deliver Vaccines with Drones. In line with statistical data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). 7,804 persons have been infected with the virus in the state. While 7,467 persons were treated and discharged, 280 cases are on admission. Kaduna state government with the first-of-its-kind innovatory Memorandum of Understanding with a private medical firm to deploy Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), better known as, drone technology to transport COD-VID-19 vaccines and other medical supplies to areas that may be difficult to access ordinarily by humans due to challenging topography.
This method of procurement and distribution of vaccines and medications is a novelty in Nigeria pioneered by the Kaduna State Government. Other states are reportedly negotiating with the company to enter a similar working relationship. The clamor for the company’s services is influenced by the success rate of the medical delivery firm, Zipline, which has the distinction of having delivered more than one million doses of other vaccines in Africa over the past year.
Before being shipped to distribution centers in specially built cool boxes loaded with dry ice, the Pfizer vaccine must be kept at roughly -70 degrees Celsius (-112 degrees Fahrenheit).
Nigeria has stated that it will pursue vaccines that do not require refrigeration.
Services in Kaduna are expected to commence in the second quarter, with three distribution centers each equipped with 30 drones providing round-the-clock coverage.
Kaduna has also upgraded 255 primary health care centers, constructed a pharmagrade warehouse, and is recruiting and training 3,000 officials to oversee the facilities, according to El-Rufai.
