In order to ease the 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 Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 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 this pilot study.

            In this pilot project for studying the feasibility of the drone technology in delivery of medical supplies, two districts in Nagaland i.e. Mokokchung and Tuensang were chosen.

            The formal launch of the i-DRONE activity in Mokokchung was held on 14th December 2021 from Chief Medical Officer’s Office to PHC Longsa village in presence of Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police and Deputy CMO, Mokokchung.

            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. With the drone, it will only take 8 minutes to reach PHC Longsa from Mokokchung Town to cover an aerial distance of 11.5 kms.

                                                            (Lanu, IA Mokokchung)