By Emem Idio, Yenagoa

AGUDAMA -EKPETIAMA -THE Bayelsa State government has been commended for the deliveries of medical supplies and consumables to hospitals and health centres in the hinterlands using drones.

The state government had in 2021 entered into a partnership with Zipline Drones Deliveries System to deliver medical supplies to hospitals in the State.

IT HAS TRANSFORM HEALTHCARE – Igwele, ex-commissioner

The immediate past Commissioner for Health, Dr Newton Pabara Igwele said the difficult terrain of the state makes accessing remote communities exceedingly difficult and posed serious challenges to healthcare delivery, necessitating the partnership with Zipline

He told NDV; “In Bayelsa State, our terrain presents significant challenges to healthcare delivery. With more rivers and deltas than neighboring states like Rivers and Delta, accessing remote communities becomes exceedingly difficult. Even though roads lead to some local government headquarters, reaching certain communities remains challenging. Additionally, the threat of sea pirates adds another layer of danger for health personnel.

“A few months ago, a critical incident unfolded in Okubie, a riverine community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area. At around 2 a.m, a distress call came in from the local hospital’s nurse, reporting a child in dire need of urgent treatment for severe malaria. However, the hospital lacked the necessary medical supplies to save the child’s life. In a race against time, they reached out to the Zipline facility, and remarkably, within just 25 minutes, the essential medications for severe malaria were swiftly delivered to the medical center in Okubie.

“This timely intervention proved lifesaving for the child, a stark contrast to the dire reality faced previously, where patients often succumbed to their illnesses during arduous journeys to larger healthcare facilities like Yenagoa. Such instances had contributed to the region’s high mortality rates, including maternal mortality.”

IT HAS IMPROVED SERVICES – Dr Alexander, Kolo General Hospital

Speaking to NDV on his experience, the Head of Clinical Services, Kolo General Hospital in Ogbia Local Government Area, Dr Opukumor Alexander, said the delivery of medical supplies to hospital have improved health services rendered by the facility to the people of the area.

He said: “Zipline has rendered services that we cannot overemphasized and it has improved the overall healthcare delivery because they offer services promptly upon request and more so I can say it is the safest and best possible way to get drugs, especially in our terrain here in Bayelsa State.

“If you are in need of any medication or consumables, as you place the order you get it as quickly as possible, if you readily have the required drugs to give to your patient, I mean the care services the patients deserve you are doing very well and that helps the health care system. So I can say it is the best technology so far because if you should look for any item that is not available probably you go to the market to look for it, you can see as you place the call they fly the consumables across to you.

“With the help of Zipline, the health care system has improved in Bayelsa state, infact they have done well, you can see before and after before Zipline you always have difficulty and inconveniences in conveying the medical supplies to the hospital but this time they just fly it over so all these issues have been cut off.”

PROMPT DELIVERY OF DRUGS AND VACCINES – Ms Adiogbogbo, Immunization Officer

Also speaking, the Officer in Charge of Otuokpoti Health Centre in Ogbia Local Government Area, Ms Ase Adiogbogbo, said: “The experience has been wonderful, Zipline are prompt in delivery the product especially the vaccines we order from them, so whenever we request they are prompt in bringing it.

“There is a lot of improvement in our services because before now sometimes it takes time for the vaccines to get to us and we are always out of stock but we always have the vaccines available at all times and the people (patients) are always happy because they don’t have to wait or postponed their scheduled appointments because of lack of drugs.”

NO MORE TIME WASTAGE, Mrs Shine – Nursing mother

A nursing mother in Agudama -Ekpetiama Community, Mrs Timipre Shine, told NDV: “When I had my first child five years ago, anytime we come for immunization we will wait for hours and sometimes whole day for the workers to go to Yenagoa the state capital to bring the vaccines and some nursing mothers were always discouraged from going to immunization because of time wasting.

“I was surprised last year when I came for the immunization of my second child, the workers told me that they no longer go to Yenagoa to receive vaccines that it is drone that brings it to them here, and we no longer waste time in the health centre as we used to before this new method. We are grateful to the state government and the company that is bringing the drugs.”

WE NO LONGER TRAVEL TO YENAGOA FOR DRUGS -, Timineri, Immunization Officer

The Immunization Officer, Agudama -Ekpetiama General Hospital, in Yenagoa Local Government Area, Ms Agabugene Timineri, said, “It is nice because medical supplies particularly vaccines are delivered to our door post here in this community and we do not have to go to the local government headquarters again. All I have to do is place a call and in ten minutes they will deliver everything I requested and I don’t have to stress myself any longer.

“It has contributed a lot to the well-being of my patients, especially nursing mothers. The first time they brought the drugs the doctors saw it and became interested and also started placing orders. The doctors said it is better because they bring it to our doorsteps.”