Bayelsa lauds Zipline’s for in improved vaccination coverage in hard-to-reach communities
The Bayelsa Government on Thursday lauded the deployment of artificial intelligence, robotics and autonomous logistics by Zipline for its contribution to strengthening routine immunisation.
It said the adoption of technology in its healthcare services has enhanced bringing essential healthcare closer to families in the state’s riverine and hard-to-reach communities.
The commendation came during a workshop reviewing efforts to reach zero-dose children ,children who have never received a single routine vaccination and expand access to essential health services across the state.
The workshop brought together senior health leaders, including the Commissioner for Health, Prof Seiyefa Brisibe, alongside the Permanent Secretary, Dr Yerinbuluemi Jones Stow, and the Executive Secretary of the Bayelsa State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Williams Appah, alongside representatives from development partners.
Brisibe stated that programme data presented at the workshop showed that Zipline delivered more than 1.8 million vaccine doses between 2024 and 2026, served 150 health facilities and established 127 community drop sites across Bayelsa.
According to him, the drone deliveries reached the eight local government areas of Brass, Ekeremor, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Nembe, Ogbia, Sagbama, Southern Ijaw and Yenagoa.
The network helped health workers bring vaccines and other essential supplies closer to families in the state’s riverine and hard-to-reach communities.
According to Brisibe, across complex waterways and dense marshlands have historically hindered traditional logistics systems from delivering vital medical supplies to remote communities.
He noted that consequently, families have faced missed vaccinations, delayed treatments, and other preventable health challenges.
The Bayelsa Ministry of Health and the Bayelsa State Primary Health Care Board said that to address the challenges, they partnered with Zipline through the Zero-Dose and Multi-Deprivation Programme, with funding from Gavi, Pfizer and the ELMA Foundation, and partnership support from Urban Primary Sampling units (UPS).
The approach combined Zipline’s centralised warehousing, inventory management, digital tracking and on-demand delivery with government-led community mobilisation and services provided by local health workers.
The health commissioner said frontline health workers were able to request the supplies they needed on-demand, with Zipline’s drones delivering to designated drop sites, enabling them to reach previously underserved children and communities.
According to the Bayelsa government, the same infrastructure also supported a broader community-based care model designed to address the overlapping health issues that frequently plague zero-dose households, such as severe childhood malnutrition and severely restricted access to maternal care.
Drone shipments were carefully expanded to bundle routine immunizations alongside essential child nutrition therapies and sexual reproductive health commodities.
The health commisioner noted that working with state health teams, UNFPA, WHO and other partners, the programme delivered approximately 19,000 malaria vaccine doses, 9,600 doses of albendazole for deworming, more than 6,000 doses of vitamin A, and supplies for diarrhoea treatment and sexual and reproductive healthcare.
Chinedu Amah, State Director, Bayelsa at Zipline Nigeria, said: “ We are proud to support the Bayelsa State government’s efforts to ensure that children in riverine communities have access to the same essential care as children anywhere else.
“Bringing reliable supplies together with health workers, community outreach and government leadership is how we turn technology into better access for families.”
The partnership highlights Bayelsa’s commitment to extending healthcare to communities that are difficult to reach, bringing government leadership, integrated logistics and community-based services together to support more equitable access to care.
