Uganda experts took advantage of a simple but beneficial way to campaign against one of the world's deadliest diseases. HIV medicines are being deployed through cargo drones to regions of Uganda.
HIV is one of the most feared sicknesses in the world, but in Uganda, it is an endemic disease that affects a lot of locals. But recently, health workers in Uganda found a solution that will cater to the needs of those who need medicinal help and fight HIV.
With the cargo drones ready and the antiretroviral (ARV) medicines at hand, experts launched the project early this month. Carrying the HIV medicines to more than 70 local community groups, the drones will have twenty flights per month. Along with the communities, the unmanned crafts will also distribute the medicinal packages to health centers and reports Good News Network.
Gamechanger Drones Deliver Medicine to Remote Districts
The medical drones are considered a 'game changer' for the Uganda Medical Association, as parts of Uganda are islands and mostly far away from each other. Some provinces lack facilities, while others are remote across lakes with no option to commute.
The pilot of the drone launch was conducted in the heart of Uganda's capital, Kampala, and the first to receive the HIV medicine was the Kalangaka district. The place is among Uganda's target to supply the packages, as it has the most HIV-affected count. Another reason why the government prioritizes the Kampala district is to protect its population of 60,000 from contracting the disease and prevent its transmission.
The district had a staggering record of up to a 20% prevalence rate and an estimate of almost 40% on communities where fishing is the only source of living. Both numbers are much higher than the national's 5.6% rate, The Guardian reports.
Medical Drone Strategy, New HIV Fighters
Even if Uganda faces a shortage of ARV drugs, Makerere University's Infectious Disease Institute executive director Andrew Kambugu says that medical drones are a big step in dealing with HIV. The new HIV fighters will hopefully close the last mile of delivery, ensuring that the network of ARVs will be accessible to any parts of Uganda, Kambugu added.
The medical drone strategy will deliver packages to remote areas and solve the global challenge that the country is facing. In addition, using drones to deliver medicines will help professionals and health workers focus more of their time on their end.
The geographical challenge did not stop the Infectious Disease Institute and Academy of Health from collaborating and extending all assistance to control the spike of HIV. According to Uganda health director Henry Mwebesa, the use of medical drones will ease the tension of not having a single treatment of HIV in outlying areas. It will also be a subject for other facilities to replicate in a future project, he added.
With the operation of medical drones, the outpatient department is expected to increase. Neighboring countries of Uganda such as Ghana and Rwanda began using medical drones to cater medication supplies to millions of their population.
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