The Luke Commission (TLC), a nonprofit providing free healthcare in the Kingdom of Eswatini, launched Eswatini’s first-ever long-range medical drone network in partnership with Swoop Aero, an Australian-based drone company and Red Lightning, a disaster response organization.
Details
This network, based at TLC’s Miracle Campus in Sidvokodvo, builds on two decades of work by TLC to establish a robust supply chain for its healthcare network.
The Eswatini drone network utilizes Swoop Aero’s cutting-edge KITE drone, with a range of 175 kilometers and a cruising speed of 122 km/h, which swiftly allows the transport of a four-kilogram payload from the centrally located Miracle Campus to any point in Eswatini in less than 45 minutes.
Energized by powerful rechargeable batteries, the KITE’s two-way capability enables reverse logistics for lab samples from distant health facilities to the Miracle Campus decreases supply chain costs for fuel, and minimizes environmental impacts.
Digging Deeper
Serving 300,000 patients annually, TLC sees firsthand the tragic implications of gaps in the national supply chain for health. The new drone network integrates with Luvelo, an innovative digital ecosystem piloted by TLC, to close these last-mile gaps, bringing high-value commodities, medications, cold-chain items, vaccines, blood units, lab samples, and other urgently needed items to patients and healthcare workers across Eswatini.
The drone program is staffed by local pilots and ground crew, embodying TLC’s commitment to local capacity building.
Five Emaswati have been trained as pilots, ensuring that this transformative technology is managed by Emaswati, for Emaswati.
What They’re Saying
“For the first 11 years of TLC’s history, my husband and I worked in the rural areas alongside the dedicated TLC team, bringing our children with us on mobile hospital outreaches as we worked to bring compassionate, comprehensive healthcare to underserved communities,” said Echo Vanderwal, executive director of TLC.
TLC has worked closely with Eswatini Civil Aviation Authority (ESWCAA) to meet all regulatory requirements.
“We are grateful to the UPS Foundation, Swoop Aero, Red Lightning and ESWACAA for making this launch possible,” said Echo. “Their partnership has moved us forward in our vision to end the isolation of underserved communities to quality healthcare.”
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