Zipline, an instant logistics and delivery company, and the Elton John AIDS Foundation are expanding their partnership to deliver HIV prevention and treatment to youth in Nigeria. 

The partnership will leverage Zipline's drone delivery technology to address Nigeria's supply chain challenges, such as access to antiretroviral therapy, which is a medicine that prevents people who are HIV positive from dying of AIDS and prevents the virus from being passed on to others.  

The partners also look to improve access to condoms, test kits and medications to ensure healthcare providers have tools on hand to provide HIV prevention and care, prioritizing deliveries to community-based organizations (CBOs) where youth often gather.

The organizations are including other partners in the program as well, such as the Clinton Health Access Initiative to advocate for policy change in the country, StrongMinds to provide mental health screenings to those at risk of HIV, and DrugStoc to make medication refills with encrypted digital vouchers easier to access. 

The pair will also partner with Heartland Alliance and Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme to engage peer networks. 

Zipline and the Foundation's endeavor in Nigeria builds on their partnership in Kenya, which has already enabled tens of thousands of individuals to access preventative care and HIV treatment. 

"Our continued collaboration will deliver essential physical and mental health services - including contraceptives, PrEP, HIV tests, and medication - to high-risk youth, including the LGBTQ+ adolescents and young women, at locations that are convenient to them," Lindsay Hayden, senior portfolio lead at the Elton John AIDS Foundation, said in a statement.

"By leveraging Zipline's cutting-edge delivery infrastructure, the Foundation is providing a modern, convenient and comprehensive 'one-stop shop' for youth care in Africa."

THE LARGER TREND

Zipline has had a presence in Nigeria since 2022, providing drone delivery of medications, vaccines and other types of health products to hospitals, health facilities and community drop points. 

At the UN General Assembly in September, Zipline and the Nigerian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare announced plans to expand Zipline's drone delivery service across the country to address malnutrition, malaria, maternal mortality rates and other hard to control health challenges. 

That project aims to improve access to healthcare across the country, particularly in vulnerable or hard-to-reach populations. 

The Elton John AIDS Foundation is one of the first financial backers of the vision to expand access to care across Nigeria.