Drone operator Zipline has partnered with the Ivory Coast Ministry of Health, Public Hygiene and Universal Health Coverage to provide delivery of medical supplies. As part of the partnership, Zipline will build and operate four distribution centres from where blood products, vaccines, and medical products will be stored and distributed to more than 1,000 health facilities across the country. The first distribution centre is expected to be completed and operationalized before the end of 2022.
This agreement aims to support the Ministry’s vision to achieve Universal Health Coverage by ensuring equitable access to blood products, vaccines, and medical products, especially in rural areas.
Zipline will support all health facilities with emergency response capabilities, as well as routine and stockout-response deliveries of medicines, vaccines, and blood. Zipline will also serve as the sole supplier for some health facilities in remote regions in the Country, creating a more efficient delivery service.
The partnership is also estimated to culminate in the creation of many jobs for the indigenes as Zipline is expected to source local talents to man the distribution centres. Many local service providers, along the value chain, will be directly engaged by Zipline which is also expected to boost the local economy of the country.
“Achieving a Universal Health Coverage is top of our priority at the Ministry and we believe that this bold decision to partner Zipline is one sure way of achieving it”, said The Minister of Health, Public Hygiene, and Universal Health Coverage, Minister (Mr.) Pierre N’gou DIMBA. “We have evaluated the capacity of Zipline, their operations in other African countries with similar needs such as ours, and we truly believe that this partnership will help us to remove access barriers to health care and create a more equitable and efficient health system across the country.”
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