Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has revealed that instead of focusing primarily on delivering medical supplies to hard-to-reach areas and emergency cases, Zipline drones have been transporting a wide range of other items, including condoms, blood donor cards, mosquito nets, food, and educational materials.
Speaking at the Government’s Accountability Series held at the Presidency, Minister Akandoh highlighted that Zipline’s drone deliveries to hard-to-reach areas and emergency services now represent only 12% and 4% of total activities respectively.
He explained that while Zipline was originally intended to focus on reaching remote communities and urgent medical deliveries, a review of their operations showed a broader scope.
“Apart from that, the services was to concentrate on the hard-to-reach areas and emergency services. But upon review of the activities, what we have realised is that the hard-to-reach areas constitute only 12% of the activities. And emergency services is 4% of the activities,” he said.
Akandoh continued, “And it will interest you to know some of the items they fly, items like condom, blood donor cards, not blood, blood donor cards, mosquito nets, food and nutrition items, adhesive tapes, syringes and needles, education materials, among other things, textbooks, exercise books, uniforms, and a lot more.
“So these are some of the items they have been flying,” he disclosed.
The Minister emphasized the government’s focus on ensuring value for money in public service delivery.
“And so when we came to office, we think that there must be value for money. And therefore, we are engaging them. So if you hear that we are not engaging zip line, it’s not true. We have met more than three times. And we are still engaging them to know how we can have value for money,” Akandoh stated.
He also clarified ongoing communications with Zipline, dispelling rumors about a disengagement.
“That is what His Excellency the President has directed us to do, that in our respective ministries, we must make sure that whatever we are doing, we have value for money.”
Source: www.Kumasimail.com
