This week, Ghana’s parliament accredited a deal that will spend $12.5 million (in USD) over the following 4 years to create a system of medical provide supply to distant areas of the nation utilizing drones. The system will likely be applied by means of a partnership between the Ghanaian authorities’s personal Health Service and US-based drone firm Zipline, which we’ve written about earlier than and which has assisted in implementing an identical system in Rwanda.
Government officers say that the deal, identified formally because the Drone Delivery Project, will convey the world’s most superior healthcare provide chain to the small African nation. But whereas the federal government vote on the challenge was overwhelmingly in favor of the plan (102 votes for, 58 votes towards), the proposal has been accompanied by huge public outcry from Ghana’s residents.
The Ghana Medical Association, an organized non-governmental group of docs from the nation, issued a press release calling for a direct suspension of the challenge implementation. They say that the Drone Delivery Project is a transparent waste of presidency cash in a rustic that also has lower than 100 ambulances nationwide. Furthermore, they level out that the plan was pushed by means of with none session from medical well being professionals: “It is appropriate for us as an Association of Medical Doctors and Dentists, who are stakeholders in the policy, to offer our perspective on the matter even though we have not been consulted.”
In a basic sense, the detractors really feel that the deal is extra about making Ghana seem technologically superior and impress Western corporations (like Zipline themselves, little doubt) whereas ignoring the considerations of atypical Ghanaians.
The Director-General of Ghana’s Health Service, Dr. Nsiah Asare, spoke to journalists in Accra about his view of the challenge: “The purpose of the drones is part of Ghana government’s policy to deliver quality health service to every Ghanaian…We believe that it is the most cheapest and efficient way to deliver to the remotest and underserved areas of the country.”
The nation’s Vice President, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, of the center-right New Patriotic Party, didn’t mince phrases as he defended the deal as being important to bettering Ghanaian well being care: “If you have a technology that can help a dying mother, or someone dying of snake bite, bring the medicine! I think it’s something that is so important and we should grab and make use of.”
“It is not a political issue,” he added, “Because everybody who is dying will not ask whether you’re NDC or NPP.” NPP, after all, is the New Patriotic Party itself, whereas the NDC refers back to the center-left National Democratic Congress, which has largely been against the deal.
“We’ve said it that this one, it is a ripoff,” stated Cassiel Ato Forson, NDC parliamentarian and Minority spokesperson on Finance. “Even if everyone else supports it, I – Cassiel Ato Forson – will not support it because I think it is a ripoff…The Vice President is leading this country unto a path of unrighteousness because obviously, we can use $27.8 million for something better.”
At Dronethusiast, we regularly cowl drone information from the attitude that extra technological progress within the trade is at all times higher. But this case brings up an necessary consideration that we must always at all times be mindful. Progress ought to by no means come on the expense of peoples’ lives, and as a lot as we love drones, there are various nations on the planet which will legitimately want to attend to implement them as a part of their infrastructure.
What do you suppose? Do you consider that Ghana is dealing with such a scenario now? Or would you slightly have quick medication than ambulance assist for hospitals? Let us know what you consider this difficult subject within the feedback (and by all means, let’s attempt to hold it respectful.)
Mike is an internet entrepreneur and digital advertising and marketing specialist who additionally loves flying drones. He has owned and managed Dronethusiast since 2015 and enjoys writing opinions and analyzing totally different subjects within the fast paced Drone expertise house. Along with the editorial workforce at Dronethusiast Mike spends tons of of hours annually analyzing and learning totally different drones and their tech specs to assist customers discover one of the best merchandise for his or her wants. Contact Mike by utilizing the Dronethusiast.com Contact web page or attain out at [email protected].