EDITORIAL: Putting drones to good use will benefit society

Bring up the topic of drones and it conjures images of terror from the skies. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), as drones are officially known, are synonymous with targeted military airstrikes whenever the USA goes on the warpath. But ever since drones came into the public domain, they have opened up many possibilities; from aerial photography to agriculture and security. Some major outlets have even mulled using drones to deliver orders to their clients, the very idea Rwanda will soon bring to life. Soon, the country will be home to the world’s first droneport that is currently under construction in Muhanga District, Southern Province. From there, drones will be able to take off and land to deliver emergency medical supplies to the remotest parts of the country in the shortest possible time. One can imagine how many lives will be saved by this groundbreaking innovation. It is a result of the government’s quest to use technology for social good, and it is not the first time the country turns to technology to solve health challenges. Mobile phones have been used to give the Ministry of Health real-time data on the state of health among the population and their needs. This has helped the ministry to plan in a more efficient manner and intervene in time and save resources. It is too early to gauge how drone technology will benefit the logistics sector as regulatory mechanisms are still being fine-tuned. But what is indisputable is that drones are here to stay.

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EDITORIAL: Putting drones to good use will benefit society