By Austine Patrice Kachilika

Mzimba, December 15, Mana: Village Reach’s senior manager responsible for supply chain, Innocent Mainjeni says Drone for Health Program in Mzimba will improve access to primary healthcare in the district.

Speaking on Thursday during a district executive committee (DEC) meeting, Mainjeni said adoption of the drone technology in the health sector will bring improved health worker efficiency, speedy delivery of medicine and documentation in hard-to-reach areas.

Mainjeni said from 1 February 2020 to 1 February 2021, the Drones for Health program has managed to transport 200 different types of products weighing 2,037 kg, including 84,706 vaccines and 6,092 lab samples across 60 health facilities in Nsanje, Chikwawa, Zomba, Mangochi, Machinga and Chiradzulu.

“This has helped much in solving delays in sample and medicine transportation over vast distances and maneuvering in difficult terrains and weather.

“In addition, drone delivery technology is very fast and has an upper hand in reducing sample contamination, therefore, this program will improve efficiency in health service delivery in Mzimba and the whole country at large”, said Mainjeni.

Director of Health and Social Services (DHSS) for M’mbelwa District Council Dr. Prince Chirwa said drone technology will be key in fighting Cholera, HIV & AIDS and Anthrax in the district since samples will be collected and transported on time for analysis and diagnosis.

The program is being implemented in five sub-Saharan countries namely; Malawi, Mozambique, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cote d’Ivoire.