Malawi to use drones to reduce child deaths

Mar 16, 2016 Health 59
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Drones

Government has partnered United Nations children’s fund (Unicef) to test the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs or drones) in HIV testing of infants.

Infants who have HIV positive mothers need to be tested early so that they can receive treatment. However, in Malawi only half of babies with HIV have access to treatment, and their initial diagnosis is often delayed because of the poor state of the roads.

Drones
Ready for use.

It currently takes an average of 11 days to get blood samples from Malawi’s remote health centres to a central laboratory for testing for the AIDS virus and a further eight weeks for the results to be delivered back.

That is where drones comes in; they will dramatically reduce the waiting time for the blood test results and more young children will be able to start HIV treatment.

The first successful test flight completed a 10km route unhindered travelling from a community health centre to the Kamuzu Central Hospital laboratory.  

This is a positive development as drones can solve logistical challenges in health delivery in a country where 10,000 children died from HIV-related diseases in 2014. In the same year, nearly 40,000 children in Malawi were born to HIV positive mothers.

“This innovation could be the breakthrough in overcoming transport challenges and associated delays experienced by health workers in remote areas of Malawi.

“Quality care of these children depends on early diagnosis, which requires taking dried blood samples from the health centre to the central laboratory for testing.

“We hope that UAVs can be part of the solution to reduce transportation time and ensure that children who need it, start their treatment early,” said Mahimbo Mdoe, Unicef Representative in Malawi.

Minister of Health Peter Kumpalume also acknowledged the potential of the drones to solve a problem that has been there for a long time.

“It’s specialist testing we do for youngsters. If you delay giving them treatment most of them don’t live beyond two years old.

“So the earlier the detection and the earlier the intervention, the longer they live and become productive citizens of the country,” said Kumpalume.

The UAV flights are supported by US company, Matternet, who created the UAV being used in the test, designed exclusively for transportation. After the test flights, the cost comparison with road transport will be done, and if favourable, the second phase will carry out test flights from remote areas of the country.

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59 Comments

  7. what technology will they be using? what will be the side effects to citizens? hope its not Laser,am afraid of radiation.

    2. how will drones detect the H.I.V camera kkkkkkk? guess its within radiography technology, so all these they attract radiation.

    3. Its carrying samples to go for screening Ku central hospital..the samples are collected from pipo who have visited the health centre….its just an easy way of transferring the samples kkkkkkkkkk knowledge is power kkkk

  11. Can someone tell me how the drones will reduce child deaths.Nalo boma kumawakanilapo zinazi azunguwa,ndimakumbuka in 2005 boma linapatsa cilolezo ma British solder’s kudzaponya mabomba mu kasungu national park pano nyama zinanthawa kulira kwafuti,pano mukulora kuyesa ka drones.Tipindulanji titatha kuyesa kathuko?

  16. Ngati sitikudziwa osamapanga comment chifukwa achipatala akudziwa zimene zimachitika pankhani yoyeza magazi a ana ang’ono chifukwa sizimayezedwa komwe amatengera magazi koma kuma central hospitals kokha.

  17. Instead of sending this so called drone to deal wth corruption & issues associated wth hunger …afta all Aids got treatment…

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  20. Now they choose Malawi as the testing ground. If it will work, it will not even be used in Malawi or Malawi gvt will not afford it and now u r smiling. This this drone have never been used in any country on earth but they choose to test it there seeing thatalawi is the poorest country they can’t say anything. shame to my country. bwanji osayesera komwe achipangako?

  21. Now they choose Malawi as the testing ground. If it will work, it will not even be used in Malawi or Malawi gvt will not afford it and now u r smiling. This this drone have never been used in any country on earth but they choose to test it there seeing thatalawi is the poorest country they can’t say anything. shame to my country. bwanji osayesera komwe achipangako?

    1. papenepo aboma amakhala kuti alandira kanganyase .basi mkuvomera kuti aziyesere kwathu kuno akuziwa kuti kaya ndizowopya pa moyo wa munthu koma iwo bola apange chuma

    4. Have u been living under the rock like seriously? Drones have been in use for couple of years dude, do some research before you spew some ignorance here

  33. Way to go Malawi fight to the last of your breath guyz and never give up until those who don’t see heaven in africa see it.

  34. Way to go Malawi fight to the last of your breath guyz and never give up until those who don’t see heaven in africa see it.

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