Drones take to the Vanuatu sky to test ‘last mile’ vaccine delivery to children

Dec 5, 2018 | Initiatives and Projects | 0

In Vanuatu today, Minister of Health, Hon. Norris Jack officially opened drone trials for vaccine delivery to children living on remote islands. The event was held at the old Takara Airstrip, about an hour from the capital, Port Vila, with hundreds of community members, health workers and children present to witness the drones take to the sky for the first time.

“Vanuatu’s development plan, while setting out a vision for a stable, sustainable and prosperous country, demands innovative ways to reach children living in communities on remote islands,” said Hon. Norris Jack. “It is a proud day for Vanuatu to launch these drone trials using commercial contracts, which will aim to bring life-saving vaccines to our children,” he added.

In a world first, the Government of Vanuatu awarded three commercial contracts to two drone companies, Swoop Aero Pty Ltd of Melbourne, Australia, and Wingcopter Holding GmbH & Co. KG of Darmstadt, Germany, to help achieve the “last mile” vaccine delivery to the 20 per cent of children living on remote islands who currently do not have reliable access to vaccines.

“In remote settings like this, safely getting vaccines and other essential medical supplies to children presents a unique set of challenges,” said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Pacific Representative. “We are proud to support the Government of Vanuatu in exploring new ways to get vaccines safely where they need to go, when they need to go.”

Vanuatu is an island country in the Pacific, an archipelago of 83 islands that covers 1,600 kilometres. Only about one-third of the inhabited islands have airfields and established roads, which creates considerable logistical challenges to reach, engage with and support remote communities.

The initial drone trials will take place from 5to 7 December. Packages, similar to actual vaccines, will be transported from the old Takara airstrip on North Efate island, fly over Emao, Pele and Nguna islands, and reach the destination, Siviri football field –a distance of about 50km.

“Through the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the innovationXchange is pleased to partner with the Vanuatu Government and UNICEF in trialling innovative technologies to solve significant health challenges in Vanuatu,” said Dr Sarah Pearson, DFAT’s Chief Innovation Officer. “We look forward to learning from this trial and understanding how the use of drones could help prevent disease in a cost effective manner particularly in a challenging environment such as Vanuatu,” Dr Pearson added.

Following the trials, the Ministry of Health and Civil Aviation Authority of Vanuatu will consider the approval of the use of drones for the delivery of vaccines to health facilities on Epi and the Shepherds Islands, Erromango and Pentecost, as soon as January 2019. In addition, the Vanuatu Government will have a better understanding of the potential for drones to be used across all sectors in the country.

Throughout the drone trials, healthcare professionals, government representatives, teachers and children will participate, sharing knowledge and expertise, as well as ensuring cultural acceptability of this new technology.

The project is led by Vanuatu’s Ministry of Health and the Civil Aviation Authority of Vanuatu, with support from UNICEF, the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT) innovationXchange, and The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

SOURCE: UNICEF

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