Far-flung areas of the country will now be able to receive their medical supplies on time through drones in the latest partnership.
This is after the Postal Corporation of Kenya partnered with Swift Lab Limited to roll out drone-based last-mile delivery services countrywide for medical supplies, e-commerce purchases and essential cargo.
Under the three-year agreement, Swift Lab Limited, a Kenyan cargo drone company, will manufacture and operate drones that can travel up to 70km and carry a payload of up to 4kg.
“We want to invest in the production of drones, it is not only our obligation as a government to invest in Kenyan technology, but we are also keen on clawing back our market position as the courier and logistics services provider of choice,” CEO and postmaster general Dan Kagwe said.
Speaking during the signing ceremony of the three-year agreement, Kagwe said the partnership would make the delivery of essential medical supplies and other goods speedy and cost-effective by getting rid of middlemen.
PCK currently has a partnership agreement with Kenya Medical Supplies Authority.
Swift Lab Limited will provide the technical expertise in the drones’ design, manufacturing, maintenance, software integrations and regulatory approvals while adjusting the distance of travel for drones to up to 200km and above on a need basis.
“Swift Lab has already been issued a remote aircraft operations certificate by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, which makes us the only company approved for drone manufacturing and one of a few approved to operate drones in the country,” Swift Lab Limited CEO and co-founder James Munyoki said.
Munyoki said he was inspired to manufacture drones because of his mother who is diabetic and suffers from arthritis but could not get medication on time when they were growing up owing to the inaccessibility of healthcare.
Besides supporting the manufacturing pillar of the government’s Big 4 Agenda, the partnership was also a quest to open the hinterlands of Kenya, making healthcare inaccessible in areas that cannot be reached via road owing to extreme weather such as floods.
“The World Health Organisation estimates that 1,000 Kenyans die from snake bites every year, with this partnership we can deliver antivenoms or any other medications to save lives in remote areas,” Kagwe said.
The drones manufactured by Swift Lab Limited have vertical take-off and landing capability, therefore no runways or expensive infrastructure is required.
“This allows us to scale their operations across the country. The drones are utilising clean energy and are powered by rechargeable batteries,” Munyoki said.
The two organisations will jointly mobilise resources for manufacturing the drones, while PCK will provide its facilities and infrastructure across the country as operation bases for drone delivery services.
Munyoki said drone medical delivery services improve the effectiveness of medical personnel as it gives them the leeway to concentrate their efforts on the patients, rather than logistics.
“Drone also enhances the efficiency of healthcare services by helping cater for on-demand emergency needs,” he added.
-Edited by SKanyara
