Zipline, a global logistics company and Kisumu County, a member of the Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB) have signed an agreement which aims to accelerate universal health coverage across the County.
Zipline’s warehousing facility and autonomous aircraft technology will be used for storage and delivery of COVID-19 vaccines, blood products and other medical commodities to health facilities within the Kisumu county.
The agreement specifies the establishment and operation of a Zipline distribution hub in Kisumu County that will act as the base of operations for the Zipline uncrewed aerial system (UAS) and the Zipline services capable of serving health projects and facilities across 16 counties in western Kenya
The Governor of Kisumu County, H.E. Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, said, “We have made some significant efforts in improving the overall healthcare delivery of our people. It is heartwarming to note, therefore, that our mission of achieving universal health coverage is on course with this historic partnership which will ensure that no one is left behind as a result of their location”.
Commenting on the partnership, the Chairman of LREB and County Governor of Kakamega said, “it is our commitment as LREB to deliver an aggressive agenda of building a robust health delivery system that will not only serve a few but the vast majority of people within LREB Counties. Zipline’s technology is one we can resort to in accelerating the transformation of our health systems to provide timely healthcare solutions to the people on whose mandate we serve”.
On his part, the CEC of Health, Dr. Gregory Ganda said, “I am happy to note that this is one step towards reducing operational inefficiencies that inhibit access to universal healthcare in our country and region”. “We’ve seen how automated, on-demand delivery can transform healthcare systems to make them more efficient, effective and equitable,” said Keller Rinaudo, co-founder and CEO of Zipline.
“Zipline’s expansion into Kenya, our seventh country, in partnership with Kisumu County, is a pivotal step forward to expand these important benefits to more communities around the world.” The Snr. Vice President for Zipline Africa, Mr. Daniel Marfo, also assured that Zipline will expedite the distribution hub construction process to ensure that access to healthcare for life-threatening illness and vaccines is achieved rapidly. “
Zipline’s footprint in Africa has seen it establish business partnerships in Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire and now Kenya where it seeks to carry an industrious technology driven transformation in the health sectors.