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By Nathan Nwakamma
The Bayelsa Government has commended Zipline for deploying artificial intelligence, robotics and autonomous logistics to strengthen routine immunisation and improve healthcare delivery in riverine and hard-to-reach communities.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Seiyefa Brisibe, gave the commendation at a workshop in Yenagoa on Thursday to review efforts to reach zero-dose children and expand access to essential health services across the state.
Zero-dose children are those who have never received routine vaccinations.
Brisibe said programme data presented at the workshop showed that Zipline delivered more than 1.8 million vaccine doses between 2024 and 2026, serving 150 health facilities and establishing 127 community drop sites.
He said the drone delivery network covered all eight local government areas of Brass, Ekeremor, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Nembe, Ogbia, Sagbama, Southern Ijaw and Yenagoa.
According to him, the technology has helped health workers deliver vaccines and other essential medical supplies to families in communities where difficult terrain and waterways often hinder conventional logistics.
He said the state’s complex waterways and dense marshlands had historically made it difficult to deliver medical supplies to remote communities, contributing to missed vaccinations and delayed treatments.
The commissioner said the Bayelsa Ministry of Health and the State Primary Health Care Board partnered with Zipline through the Zero-Dose and Multi-Deprivation Programme.
He said the programme was funded by Gavi, Pfizer and the ELMA Foundation, with support from Urban Primary Sampling Units (UPS).
Brisibe said the initiative combined Zipline’s centralised warehousing, inventory management, digital tracking and on-demand delivery with government-led community mobilisation and services provided by local health workers.
He said frontline health workers could request supplies when needed, while Zipline drones delivered them to designated drop sites, enabling access to previously underserved children and communities.
According to the state government, the initiative also supported community-based healthcare services to address challenges affecting zero-dose households, including severe childhood malnutrition and limited access to maternal healthcare.
It said drone deliveries were expanded to include routine immunisation supplies, child nutrition therapies and sexual and reproductive health commodities to address multiple healthcare needs in underserved communities.
Brisibe said the programme, implemented with state health teams, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other partners, delivered about 19,000 malaria vaccine doses.
He added that the programme also supplied 9,600 doses of albendazole for deworming, more than 6,000 doses of vitamin A, as well as commodities for diarrhoea treatment and sexual and reproductive healthcare.
Chinedu Amah, Zipline Nigeria’s Bayelsa State Director, said the company was proud to support the state government’s efforts to improve access to essential healthcare for children in riverine communities.
“We are proud to support the Bayelsa government’s efforts to ensure that children in riverine communities have access to the same essential care as children anywhere else.
“Bringing reliable supplies together with health workers, community outreach and government leadership is how we turn technology into better access for families,” he said.
The partnership underscores efforts by the Bayelsa Government and its partners to improve equitable access to healthcare through integrated logistics, technology and community-based services, particularly in hard-to-reach areas.(NAN)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru
English (US) ·