Governor Bii unveils drones for blood, medical supplies transport

Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii has commissioned the use of drones to transport blood samples and select medical emergency drugs to hospitals in the county.

The move is the first one in the country and is part of a Sh400 million medical support deal with ElsMed Healthcare Solutions from Israel.

Governor Bii and ElsMed CEO Yaron Farachi launched the use of drones at Kisor HealthCenter  in Eldoret.

Drones will be used to collect mostly medical samples from the rural health centres to a specialized laboratory established at Huruma Sub county Hospital.

The county had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with ElsMed Healthcare Solutions from Israel to boost healthcare services in all health facilities in the region.

The money will be used to finance health-related projects for 10 years.

Governor Bii termed the move as historic and a major step towards achieving his plan to improve the healthcare system in the county.

The partnership will cover Turnkey laboratory diagnostic solutions systems, medical information technologies and infrastructure services, diabetes and hypertension treatment centres of excellence and also the drone support system.

“The use of drones is a major plus for us because we are the first country to use this technology,” said Bii.

Yaron said the use of drone technology for medical supplies was the first of its kind in Africa.

“It will save the county time and other resources usually used on road transportation of the same blood samples and some emergency drugs,” said Yaron.

Bii said the county had made great strides in ensuring residents access to quality healthcare.

Bii and his executive for health Abraham Serem urged residents to register with SHA to enjoy free healthcare from public hospitals.

Bii said the deal leading to the use of the drones was part of the partnership after a visit by the Israel Ambassador Michael Lotem to Uasin Gishu two years ago during which the envoy agreed to help finance several health projects in the region.

“We are grateful that the partnership with the Israel team has brought us a breakthrough in our plans to ensure the people of Uasin Gishu enjoy quality medical services,” Bii said.

ElsMed, which is an Israeli medical firm, will, under the deal, undertake to maintain the equipment services or replace them when obsolete. 

It will also provide consumables, reagents and other requirements at an affordable price to the county.

The county shall reinvent the finances generated by the project through the facility improvement of fund bills, which will ensure there is prompt payment of consumables.