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Drones Have Transformed Blood Delivery in Rwanda

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Max G. Levy

Science
Apr 21, 2022 7:00 AM

Drones Have Transformed Blood Delivery in Rwanda

The autonomous aircraft have shuttled blood to rural, mountainous
areas for years. A new analysis proves they're faster than driving.

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zipline drone dropping a package with a parachute attached
Courtesy of Zipline International

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Six years ago, Rwanda had a blood delivery problem. More than 12
million people live in the small East African country, and like those
in other nations, sometimes they get into car accidents. New mothers
hemorrhage. Anemic children need urgent transfusions. You can't
predict these emergencies. They just happen. And when they do, the
red stuff stored in Place A has to find its way to a patient in Place
B--fast.

Max G. Levy is freelance science journalist based in Los Angeles,
California writing about tiny neurons, vast cosmos, and all the
science in between. He received a PhD in Chemical & Biological
Engineering from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Contributor

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Topicslogisticspublic healthdronesdroneAviationemergencymedicine
Africahealth
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