Health News of Sunday, 30 June 2019

Source: ghananewsagency.org

Zipline holds community engagement at Ekye

Zipline drone Zipline drone

As part of efforts to integrate the operations of the medical drone delivery service within communities, Zipline Ghana Limited has held a stakeholders engagement with Ekye Community in the Afram Plains of the Eastern Region.

Some groups that participated in the maiden stakeholders’ engagement include nurses, traditional leaders, local government officials and residents.

They were educated on the life-saving operations of the Zipline's medical drones.

The public engagement was held on Friday, June 28, the same day Zipline started drone delivery of essential medicines to Ekye.

Some nurses serving with the Ghana Health Service were also trained on how to place order for medicines from Zipline Centre.

The meeting held at the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Ekye, also provided an opportunity for the indigenes to express their concerns and made suggestions on ways Zipline could improve upon its service delivery.

Some of the concerns raised by the residents had to do with whether health facilities would be required to pay for the drugs they order from Zipline, why orders must be placed first before delivery rather than supplying the drugs to the health facilities to be on standby for emergency cases.

Officials of Zipline Ghana explained that it would not take money from any health facility that placed an order.

The company appealed to health workers not to pay money to any person who may demand payments before delivering medicines.

Meanwhile, Mr George Ofori, the District Chief Executive for Kwahu Afram Plains South, expressed his excitement about the extension of the medical drone service to the area.

"I think all along, we were expecting you and we have you now," he said.

Madam Naa Adorkor Yawson, the Systems Integration Lead for Zipline Ghana Limited, assured residents that it would provide medical supplies to the area any time an order is placed and would remained committed to the community.

Zipline has held similar stakeholder engagements with other communities in the Eastern Region where Omenako Drone Delivery Service Centre has jurisdiction over supply of medication.