Zipline, a leading American drone logistics company, is set to expand its medical supply delivery operations to five additional Nigerian states, strengthening healthcare access in remote areas. The company, which already operates in Kaduna, Bayelsa, and Cross River, aims to improve the distribution of vaccines, blood products, and essential medicines across the country.
Since launching in Nigeria in 2022, Zipline has played a crucial role in improving healthcare logistics. In Bayelsa alone, it has delivered over one million vaccine doses and 71,000 units of essential medicines. The company also partnered with Jumia to explore drone delivery for everyday consumer goods in Nigeria.
Zipline’s autonomous drones operate beyond visual line of sight, carrying up to 2 kg of cargo within a 100 km radius. This ensures rapid and efficient deliveries to even the most remote healthcare facilities. The company also addresses challenges related to vaccine storage by using insulated cold bags and just-in-time delivery models, reducing spoilage and ensuring temperature-sensitive vaccines remain viable.
Zipline’s model has already demonstrated significant success in other African countries. In Rwanda, its services reduced blood product wastage by 67%, while in Ghana, vaccine stock-outs dropped by 60%, contributing to a 56% reduction in maternal deaths in the northern region.
By expanding its services in Nigeria, Zipline aims to replicate these successes, integrating drone technology into the country’s healthcare system to overcome logistical barriers and ensure timely access to life-saving supplies. The initiative highlights the potential of technological innovation in addressing public health challenges and improving healthcare delivery across Africa.
