In Tanzania, Drones Are Saving Lives, Delivering Medical Supplies

Another example of how tech can make the world better: A new life-changing initiative in Ukerewe, Tanzania, is using drones to deliver medical supplies quicker than ever, saving lives in situations where every minute counts, especially for those living in remote areas with no easy access to hospital facilities.

The Tanzanian high-tech solution has saved 8,000 patients during a six-month pilot phase where 2,000 autonomous flights were made. The drones can save hours of journey time, covering around 60 kilometers in 40 minutes.

The drones also ship medical samples to mainland Tanzania to test for HIV, tuberculosis and other diseases, and give people in remote neighborhoods access to the same test turnaround times as those closer to medical facilities.