Zipline, a leader in autonomous drone delivery, has partnered with the Nigerian government to transform healthcare access and drive economic development.
Since launching in Nigeria in 2022, Zipline’s drones have delivered millions of vaccines, medicines, and 260 types of health products to over 900 hospitals and community drop points. The partnership will be officially announced at the United Nations General Assembly on September 26, 2024.
The initiative aims to overcome Nigeria’s health challenges, such as maternal mortality, malnutrition, and malaria, by building a resilient logistics system that ensures access to high-quality healthcare, especially for the country’s non-urban population. Zipline’s climate-friendly, zero-emissions aircraft are designed to reach remote communities quickly, providing critical supplies within 10 minutes. The company has created over 500 local jobs in robotics, healthcare, software engineering, and business.
Zipline’s success in Africa includes significant health outcomes. In Rwanda, Zipline reduced blood expiries by 67%, according to a Lancet study, and decreased maternal mortality by 51% due to its on-demand blood delivery system. In Ghana, the drone service led to a 21 percentage point increase in childhood vaccination rates, reduced maternal deaths by 56.4%, and cut vaccine stockouts by 60%. Zipline’s ability to scale such operations in Nigeria could bring similarly transformative results.
“This sort of partnership one that brings tens of millions of dollars of foreign investment, turns Nigeria into a global AI and robotics powerhouse, and creates jobs of the future for its youth – will reshape Nigeria and the world over the coming years,” said Zipline CEO and Co-Founder Keller Rinaudo Cliffton.
The Nigerian government has prioritized healthcare reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who launched the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) in 2023.
PVAC’s goal is to enhance local healthcare manufacturing, reduce medical tourism, and create quality jobs. “Scaling Zipline’s infrastructure nationwide can digitize, modernize, equalize and raise the quality of healthcare services available to all Nigerians,” stated Nigerian Health Minister Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate.
The partnership also aims to establish a sustainable financing model to attract global health and development funders. Initial financial backers include Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Elton John AIDS Foundation, underscoring the collaborative effort to improve health outcomes, particularly for vulnerable populations like young people.
A second agreement between Zipline and Nigeria’s Ministry of Communications will extend drone technology to other sectors, including agriculture, education, and disaster relief, enhancing Nigeria’s economic and technological landscape.
Src: Zipline
