As the world seek advanced, improved and on time delivery of basic commodities to meet increasing population demand,the Cross River State Government and zipline global technologies held a training workshop for health workers on operations of digital equipment for delivery of medical commodities to hard to reach areas in tre state .
The delivery drone like equipment is capable of transporting at least 4kg worth of medical supply from a designated centre courtesy of a modelled remote system which navigate and propel its direction and speed.
In collaborations with the health sector, the government seek to advance more equitable distribution patterns to curb over dependences on the state’s central drug store.
speaking during the workshop in Calabar, the Cross River State Capital, Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong said ,the new technology when finally introduced into the state health system will further boost the confidence of the people in seeking and referrring others to state owned and managed health facilities. She said the state government is committed to introducing innovations that will strengthen the health system and make life easy for the people.
According to Dr Ekpenyong, the new technology will foster harmony betweeen various organisations of government who currently collaborate in offering seemless healthcare services to citizens.
she said , going by proven records in other countries like the United States of America and Ghana, the zipline technology will bring a lasting solution to shortage of commodities in some facilities as she thanked the state Governor and his wife, Senator Ben and Dr linda Ayade for keying into the vision of creating unhinderable access to Quality Healthcare to meet 21st century demands .
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr David Ushie said the technology will further push the state towards achieving UHC as it will help bridge the gap of commodity stock out and further gain confidence of the people.
On his part, Director General of the Cross River State Health Insurance Scheme, Dr Godwin Iyala said the technology will bring ease to the healthcare system as to meet the clients demand and a further morale boaster in the implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund and State Health Insurance Scheme “Ayadecare”
He said through the support of the state Primary Healthcare Development Agency, the technology will curb rascality and excuses of commodity shortage and will advance accountability and beat professional standards among workers.
The Permanent Secretary of state Ministry of Health, Dr Iwara Iwara admonished the health workers to show seriousness and ensure to understand the workings of the new technology, as they will serve as the mouth piece of the government, by ensuring that the communites where they reside are sensitized on the new innovation to ensure their buy in.
Responding, Mrs Carthy Odiase, Managing Director of Zipline technologies said, the partnership with the brand will offer it’s best to ensure that the state get optimal results in the adoption of the new technology.
She said, due to the recently lunched social health investment scheme, there are wide and interesting prospects to be gained especially as the state continue to headline best health practices among other competing states in the nation.
Dr Henry Onyemachi, the technical lead of zipline also made a presentation on behalf of zipline.
Good will messages also came from the Directors of Local Government Health Authorities, Permanent Secretary of the state Primary Healthcare Agency and other trainees.
It will be recalled that the state government had in 2021 launched this innovation with the state government giving assurance that the innovation will give the state an edge over other states in the country. Cross River State is the second state after Kaduna to adopt this innovation in the country.
