Zipline and KNUST award top research on drone delivery for healthcare equity

The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has partnered with Zipline, a leading drone delivery service, to honor top research projects that leverage drone technology to improve healthcare delivery. The ceremony, held at the Amonoo-Neizer Conference Hall, spotlighted creative research and the importance of collaboration between different disciplines to strengthen public health.

Since the partnership with the Ghanaian Government in 2019 to use drones for delivering essential medical supplies, Zipline has expanded to six distribution centers across the country, serving over 17 million Ghanaians and 2700 health facilities.

To solidify the evidence supporting the effectiveness of drone-based logistics, Zipline and KNUST launched the Zipline/KNUST Research Grant Award. The program provides funding and encouragement to interdisciplinary research teams at KNUST.

Twelve proposals from a pool of 51 student researchers were evaluated by independent reviewers, with two projects chosen for funding. These projects focus on the impact of drone logistics on improving sexual and reproductive health services in specific regions of Ghana, as well as reducing healthcare disparities in another district. Each winning team received mentorship, roughly $7000 in funding, and support to publishing their findings in peer-reviewed journals.

"We celebrate not only the brilliance of our students today, but also the transformative power of research," stated Prof. Peter Agyei-Baffour, Head of the Department of Health Policy Management and Economics at KNUST.

"These projects exemplify how working together across disciplines can address critical health issues and ensure equitable access to medical supplies throughout Ghana."

Mrs. Yvonne Aglah, leading Zipline's Ghana Operations, highlighted Zipline's dedication to supporting innovative solutions.

"Zipline is committed to using technology to bridge healthcare gaps. These research initiatives underscore the positive impact of drone logistics in strengthening healthcare delivery and reaching underserved communities. We are proud to support the next generation of innovators at KNUST."

Florence Haruna, a member of the research team at Zipline, added; "the collaboration between Zipline and KNUST exemplifies what can be achieved when academia and industry join forces. Moving forward, we aim to expand this partnership to foster more research that can provide evidence-based solutions to global challenges in healthcare supply chains."

This partnership between Zipline and KNUST aims to continue promoting research that tackles healthcare disparities and improves supply chain logistics, ultimately leading to better population health.