Face to Face Africa reports that Ethiopia has joined Rwanda and Malawi to become the third African country to launch a drone-based medical equipment and supply network to remote areas of the country. According to the publication: “The Ethiopian Ministry of Science and Technology has invested four million Birr (USD144,990) for the pilot project that is expected to be completed by the end of the year to fully kickstart the programme.
“Our team did the full drone design,” Getahun Mekuria (PhD), minister of Science and Technology, told Ethiopian media, Fortune.
“The drone, carrying cargo weighing five kilograms and flying at 5,000m altitude, was assembled with components from China and an engine from the United States and can fly up to 120km an hour. The drones will deliver medical supplies running in autopilot mode from dispatch centres to be located in Addis Ababa, Meqelle, Hawasa, Jima, Dire Dewa and Bahir Dar the drones, and will operate in an area that covers a 150Km radius from each dispatch centre, according to a report by Fortune. The Ministry will also manufacture an additional 23 drones in the next six months that will be used to deliver medical supplies on a regular basis to selected remote areas.”
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(Image: Fortune)
