Bono and Philippine Red Cross Announce Nationwide Blood Delivery Via Drones

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC), Zipline, and legendary rock icon and U2 frontman Bono just announced plans for the largest drone delivery operation in Asia Pacific. Bono is a board member of Zipline, a company that focuses on utilizing drones to deliver crucial and life-saving medical supplies to remote places around the world. The program will deliver blood bags to different parts of the country.

Bono announced the project during a signing ceremony at the Philippine Red Cross national headquarters. Bono, one of the most active philanthropists in the world, is one of the most outspoken supporters of Red, an organization dedicated to helping people who are living with AIDS and HIV. Bono has also supported charities in developing countries from around the world, and this time, he is lending his fame and influence to the PRC to support the largest and most innovative blood delivery project in the region.

Drones will reach places where the streets have no names.

“Geography and Mother Nature can get in the way of our work in reaching the most vulnerable, making it difficult for them to get access to blood and vital medicines,” said PRC chair Senator Richard Gordon. “The Philippine Red Cross will soon be able to reach patients at hospitals across the country on-demand and within minutes.

Zipline CEO Keller Rinuado says that millions of Filipinos have no access to vital medical products because of last-mile transportation challenges. “Zipline’s instant drone delivery service was designed to help solve that problem. We’re honored to work with the Philippine Red Cross to make sure that patients across the country can access the blood they need to stay alive no matter where they are and no matter the circumstances,” he says.

“Of all the Red Cross chapters in the world, I think this is the bravest and hardest working,” says Rinuado. He talked about the hardships faced by Filipino Red Cross volunteers such as rough geography, war, and poverty. 

Zipline will provide on-demand instant delivery via drone of more than 150 life-saving medical products, including blood, vaccines, and medicines. Health workers can place orders through text message and will receive their orders within 30 minutes. The drones will take off and land at Zipline’s distribution centers, requiring no additional infrastructure at the medical center or clinics it serves.