Medical drones: Côte d’Ivoire signs with Zipline for ten distribution centres
The eight-year contract is meant to deliver vaccines, blood and medicines by drone to about 12 million people, a third of the population.
- Zipline will build nine new drone centres in Côte d’Ivoire, for 12 million people.
- The first site has delivered nearly 4 million medical products since 2023.
- A $150 million US grant, conditional on contracts with governments.
Côte d’Ivoire has signed an eight-year contract with Zipline to expand the delivery of health products by drone. The company will build nine new distribution centres, in addition to the one it has operated north-west of Abidjan since 2023.
During the three years of this first site, Zipline delivered nearly 4 million medical products, mainly vaccines and blood bags, to more than 200 health centres. The expanded network is to serve about 12 million people.
Conditional American funding
The project relies on a $150 million grant from the US government, awarded on condition that African countries sign contracts covering operating costs. Zipline also plans twelve centres in Nigeria by 2028, to reach about 110 million people. The company started in Africa in Rwanda, in 2016.
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