Stellat’en First Nation has partnered with the College of British Columbia in a year-long examine to ship medical provides to distant communities utilizing drones.
The initiative will take a look at the mettle of unpiloted aerial autos in all 4 seasons to find out whether or not they can safely transport a wide range of life-saving gadgets, from COVID-19 swabs to blood merchandise.
“Drone transport could improve our entry to COVID-19 testing and medicine with out travelling and endangering different members of our neighborhood,” Stellat’en Chief Robert Michell stated in a UBC information launch.
“The futuristic potential of this initiative is thrilling. With drone expertise, there may be a lot you are able to do.”
Stellat’en First Nation is about 100 kilometres west of Prince George, B.C.
Credit score: UBC
Learn extra:
Robots with iPads assist B.C. long-term care residents join with family members
Stellat’en First Nation is positioned about 100 kilometres west of Prince George, B.C.
The neighborhood will collaborate with UBC on the ‘Distant Communities Drone Transportation Initiative,’ which can work in the direction of creating a scalable mannequin for medical provide supply to distant and rural communities throughout the nation.
“I believe we’ve entered a brand new period with this expertise. We have to find out about it and see what’s doable,” stated Dr. John Pawlovich, medical professor in UBC’s division of household follow and telehealth lead for the Rural Coordination Centre of BC.
The pandemic has highlighted disparities in entry to medical provides and care, stated Pawlovich, and in lots of distant communities, travelling to entry them will be dangerous enterprise.
COVID-19 has, nevertheless, opened folks’s minds to digital well being care and expertise, he added, paving the way in which for a pilot undertaking like this one.
“I believe the story to be advised right here is that we have to begin our journey understanding how drone expertise will advance the medical provide chain and actually deepen our relationship with expertise, in a considerate, relationship-based means with rural, distant and Indigenous communities.”
Learn extra:
Justin Trudeau to go to Kamloops, B.C. after skipping First Nation reconciliation ceremony
Final month, a Toronto hospital community and Quebec firm efficiently transported a set of lungs for transplant utilizing a drone. All around the globe, stated Pawlovich, the expertise has used to move blood merchandise as nicely.
He and the staff at Stellat’en First Nation stated they’re keen to check the boundaries.
The undertaking is funded partly by the 2020 TD Prepared Problem. Different companions embody the Village of Fraser Lake, Drone Supply Canada, the Northern Well being authority, and extra.
World Information has reached out to Stellat’en Chief and Council for extra touch upon this story.
© 2021 World Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
