KIU, Main Campus - The Academy for Health Innovation at Infectious Disease Institute (IDI)  on 28th April 2021, launched the Medical Drones project on Bufumira Island, Kalangala District to ease the delivery of medical supplies.

 

The project is the first of its kind aimed at overcoming geographical barriers that impede the success of health care service delivery. The drones will be used to deliver medical supplies to communities and health facilities as well as transportation of samples. 

 

Bufumira Island is a tract of land surrounded by water located in Kalangala District, Central Region, Uganda. The location of the island indicates why the academy came up with the idea to use drones to deliver medical supplies to the remote island with feeder roads that are hard to access.

 

According to Dr Rosalind Parkes –Ratanishi, the Director of Academy of Health Innovation at IDI said the medical drones will support health facilities to deliver commodities to communities on Bufumira Island.

 

With the diversified use of drones from security surveillance, videography at weddings and social events, Uganda is now exploring the use of drones in the health sector to improve healthcare and well-being of her citizens in hard-to-reach areas.