1. Drones for Development & Humanitarian Response in Malawi
TechNet 15
Judith Sherman
18 October 2017
Photo credit: Matternet

2. HIV in Malawi HIV prevalence: 8.8% adults; 1.8% children
50% of HIV+ children die before their 2nd birthday if not on treatment. In Malawi, 70 children die from AIDS every week.
Turnaround time from blood sample taken for early diagnosis of HIV to lab – median 21 days
700+ facilities; 9 labs. High costs of transport system (~ $1.5 million/year); poor roads

3. Photo: UNICEF

4. Photo: UNICEF

5. Feasibility and Cost of Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to Transport Laboratory Samples for Early Infant Diagnosis of HIV in Malawi
Drones have become smaller, more reliable, less expensive. Based on the data, we approached the MoH and CAA to get approval
Samples (DBS) lightweight & portable; low-value; non-perishable

6. The Groundwork Ministry of Transport Ministry of Home Affairs
Ministry of Local Government and the Police
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Information
Ministry of Defense
National Intelligence Bureau
1 – Task force team of UNICEF, CAA and MoH
2. - Obtained government approval: Transport, Home Affairs, Local Government, Foreign Affairs, Information, the Police, Defence, and National Intelligence Bureau.

7. 3 - Identifying and contracting a drone manufacturer
Step 3 – Conducting a public awareness campaign with road shows, alongside HIV testing and counselling
Last photo - and demonstration days
Issued tender, signed contracts, conducted public information campaign

8. Cost scenarios: Loops, Hub & Spoke

9. Results Flight operations satisfied CAA requirements
All autonomous, beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flights were successful
Drones were cost-favorable when flying multiple journeys, short distances, carrying dedicated payloads
It sounds straightforward to say that flight operations satisfied Civil Aviation requirements and that all flights were successful. But it’s important to remember that these were the first non-military drone flights in Malawi, and that we were flying in a restricted airspace, over densely populated areas, beyond line of sight.
The cost analysis was quite detailed, but in brief – drones were less costly than motorbikes when flying in a hub & spoke model, carrying small payloads while motorbikes made more cost sense carrying heavier payloads for long distances.

10. Conclusions
Isolating cargo into a parallel logistics systems may miss achieving potential efficiencies
Further cost analysis should identify root causes of delays, costs and determine when drones are the most appropriate and cost-effective form of transport

11. Next Phase:
Two-year implementation of an optimized diagnostics network and supply chain system integrating current transport, drones and point- of-care diagnostics for HIV and TB, and delivery of vaccines & emergency medicines and supplies to improve access to care and treatment
The next phase is to implement an optimized diagnostics network that considers distances, terrain, seasonal changes, and volume. The network will integrate current modes of transport, drones and point of care diagnostics for HIV, viral load and TB, as well as the delivery of vaccines and emergency medicines and supplies (oxytocin, blood).

12. EMERGENCY

13. Emergency response: 2015 Assessing damage Delivering supplies
2015 floods left over 100,000 people displaced. Search & rescue hampered by lack of aircraft & boats. Use of light aircraft to assess damage ($10,000); limited search & rescue;

14. 2017 emergency response & risk-informed programming

15. Addressing Preventable Maternal Death through UAVs for Medical Commodity Delivery
Investigate quality of blood and oxytocin flown by UAVs
Assess costs and benefits, including time saved
Assess safety concerns and community and stakeholder perceptions
Develop a business case for integrating UAVs into the medical transport system
The initial groundwork that UNICEF undertook has opened Malawi to drones. Red Cross, VSO, Cooperazione Internationale, MSF are just a few of the NGOs currently conducting drone-related activities, primarily for risk-informed planning. Of particular note is a proof-of-concept currently being implemented by Village Reach to address preventable maternal death by using drones to deliver medical commodities. The objectives are:
To investigate the quality of blood and oxytocin flown by UAVs
To assess the costs and benefits, including time saved of delivering commodities that would otherwise be unavailable
To assess safety concerns and community and stakeholder perceptions related to using drones to transport medical commodities
To develop a long-term business case for integrating UAVs into the medical transport system

16. Malawi – The way forward
Regulatory framework developed
Government drone pilots trained
Establishing coordination mechanisms; data sharing
Introducing unmanned air traffic control systems
Building partnerships to achieve cost-effective solutions
In 2016, just after the study, we began assisting government to develop the regulatory framework for drones; that framework will shortly become part of the Civil Aviation Act.
We also supported training for government officials to become licensed drone pilots
We’re working with a number of partners to support government to coordinate the multiple drone activities that are taking place
We’re also exploring what type of air traffic control system will ensure that the government can provide safe oversight of drone operations.
Working with multiple funding and implementing partners, the government, academia, and the private sector to achieve cost-effective solutions that save lives
Photo: Matternet

17. THANK YOU
Photo: Matternet