After initial success in Kenya, the Elton John AIDS Foundation and drone logistics company Zipline are using drones to deliver HIV care to young people across Nigeria.

The strategic collaboration between the global leader in autonomous logistics and the HIV and AIDS care non-profit is set to redefine the approach to healthcare delivery.

It follows on the established success they had in Kenya, where over 55,000 young individuals have benefitted from HIV screenings and preventative care thanks to Zipline’s advanced drone delivery system.

Drone technology has rapidly become a beacon of innovation in various sectors, but crucially in the African healthcare space where drones from various providers like Zipline, Swoop Aero and Wingcopter have metamorphosed the delivery of healthcare products to remote communities across the continent.

And Nigeria has a significant problem with HIV and AIDS infections among its population: statistics have it that over 1,9 million citizens are infected, with a further 41 percent of new infections occurring in young individuals aged fifteen and 24.

Sadly, only ten percent of those infected receive vital antiretroviral therapy. The care deficit primarily stems from logistical challenges, including sparse supplies of test kits, medication and condoms.

And this is where Zipline and the Elton John Foundation come in.

The integration of Zipline’s sophisticated logistics system, featuring AI-driven technology and real-time tracking technology, aims to bridge this gap by ensuring a steady provision of HIV prevention and treatment services throughout Nigeria.

“Research from Rwanda and Ghana shows that on-demand delivery guarantees treatment availability exactly where patients seek it, dramatically improving health outcomes,” said Caitlin Burton, the Senior Vice President of Partnerships at Zipline.

The initiative zeroes in on reaching young Nigerians, particularly vulnerable groups such adolescents and young women, by providing crucial services directly to community-based organisations (CBOs). These services include contraceptives, PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), HIV tests, and medications.

As explained by Dr Lindsay Hayden, Senior Portfolio Lead at the Elton John AIDS Foundation; “By leveraging Zipline’s cutting-edge delivery infrastructure, we’re creating a modern, convenient, and comprehensive ‘one-stop shop’ for youth care in Africa.”

Furthermore, the initiative acknowledges the intertwined relationship of mental and physical health; with poor mental health believed to quadruple the susceptibility to HIV, the programme assimilates mental health screenings within its broader sexual and reproductive health services.