A community health officer at Ijiraga Community Primary Healthcare Centre, in Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State, Mr Augustine Okutu has disclosed that demand for vaccines and other medical consumables have increased in the northern parts of the state.
He said the people are spurred to ask for more because the vaccines are readily available and cheaper since they are delivered by drones into the remote communities.
He spoke in an interview with journalists who were at the facility to ascertain the effectiveness of the use of drones to enhance provision of vaccines, drugs and other medical consumables in rural areas of the state.
Okutu said, “There is an increased demand for immunisation and vaccination with the vaccines that dropped from the drones and not the ones from our cold chain stores.
“The drone technology has saved us the costs of moving out of the health facility to look for drugs and other medical needs.”
He said the people believe that the items delivered by the drones were from trusted sources, noting that the acquisition of fake or expired drugs has been eliminated.
Another health expert, Mr Raphael Obok, Focal Person for the Primary Healthcare Centre in Nfuma, Yala LGA, added, “We just call on the drone firm and they despatch our orders through a drone.
“The drone technology has come as a fulfillment of all the parameters of primary healthcare which include affordability, availability and accessibility.”
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Ayuk commended the innovation, saying the technology has bolstered healthcare delivery in the state.
