The ICMR’s Drone Response and Outreach in North East activity in Nagaland was formally launched with its maiden flight from CMO Mokokchung to PHC Longsa on December 14. (DIPR Photo)
Mokokchung, December 14 (MExN): The formal launch of ICMR’s Drone Response and Outreach in North East (i-Drone) activity in Mokokchung was held on December 14 with a maiden flight from the District Chief Medical Officer’s Office to Public Health Centre at Longsa village.
The flight took only take 8 minutes to reach PHC Longsa from Mokokchung Town covering an aerial distance of 11.5 kilometres, a DIPR report informed.
Normally, it takes more than one hour to reach Longsa village from Mokokchung Town, to cover a distance of almost 30 kms, which may increase during monsoon due to bad road condition, it said.
The formal launch was held in the presence of Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police and Deputy CMO, Mokokchung.
As per the report, with the objective of easing numerous challenges in vaccine delivery, especially in the hilly areas and remote villages, the Indian Medical Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has taken the initiatives in the implementation of Drone Resource and outreach in parts of India.
Based on suggestion of Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), and permission granted by Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Civil Aviation, two states and one union territory i.e. Manipur, Nagaland and Andaman and Nicobar Islands were considered for pilot project, it said.
Mokokchung and Tuensang districts were chosen in Nagaland for the pilot project analysing the the feasibility of the drone technology in delivery of medical supplies.
The i-Drone project was initially launched by the MoHFW Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on October 4 this year when the "Make in India' drone was used to transport COVID vaccine over an aerial distance of 15 kms in 12-15 mins from the Bishnupur district hospital to Loktak lake, Karang island in Manipur for administration of vaccine at the PHC. The actual road distance between these locations is 26 km.
Launching the initiative Mandaviya expressed it would further help India achieve the highest possible immunisation coverage for COVID-19.
“Incorporating such drone technologies into the national programs would help deliver other vaccines and medical supplies as quickly as possible he added.
