As Amazon continues to grapple with how it can make drone deliveries in urban areas, a startup of a different kind has been dropping medicine on Rwandans from the sky.

Zipline International has developed a rather great way of getting medicine to those in need in Africa, by dropping small crates from a piloted drone.

“More than two billion people lack adequate access to essential medical products, often due to challenging terrain and gaps in infrastructure. Because of this, over 2.9 million children under age five die every year. And up to 150,000 pregnancy-related deaths could be avoided each year if mothers had reliable access to safe blood,” the company explains.

And that is where Zip comes in. Zip, incidentally, is the name of a small robot airplane.

According to the company, it has been designed for a high level of safety, using many of the same approaches as commercial airliners. In its belly, it can carry anything from vaccines and medicine, to blood.

The little nipper can be flown almost anywhere, but the project will kick off in Rwanda.

“Through a partnership with the Government of Rwanda, Zipline will deliver all blood products for twenty hospitals and health centers starting this summer, improving access to healthcare for millions of Rwandans. With Zip’s unprecedented range, national-scale coverage is achievable from a single home base,” it explains.

Zipline International also explained that it is rather simple to get off the ground, and all that needs to happen is for a healthcare worker to place an order through a text message.

“Within minutes, a Zip is prepared and launched into the sky. Racing along at 100 km/h, Zip arrives faster than any other mode of transport, no pilot required. The medical products are then dropped off, landing gently and accurately at the health facility in an open area the size of a few parking spaces.”

It would be absolutely fantastic if we could see Zip in operation in South Africa.