Zipline Receives U.S. Secretary of State Award for Corporate Excellence in Health Security

Zipline Receives Secretary of State Award for Corporate Excellence in Health Security, a high honor – and validation for medical drone delivery around the world.

by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian M. Crosby

Today, Zipline, the world leader in instant logistics, was awarded the U.S. Secretary of State’s Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE) in Health Security. Presented by Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, the distinguished accolade recognizes Zipline’s work to improve health security, access, and equity in Ghana.

Secretary of State Blinken, who spoke with Zipline in Nigeria this past November, stated at today’s ceremony, “Zipline, a company that I first became aware of about five or six years ago, is doing remarkable work, has partnered with the Ghanaian government to deliver more than 250,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses, and it’s able to do this getting to remote areas that otherwise would have great difficulty getting the vaccine or getting other medicines. These efforts are literally saving lives.”

Since 2019, Zipline has been working alongside the Government of Ghana, the Ministry of Health and its agencies, and the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, to help transform Ghana’s health system and offer more effective and equitable care to people across the nation. Zipline serves over 1,900 health facilities in Ghana, where it has completed more than 130,000 commercial deliveries, flown over 10 million autonomous miles, and delivered millions of vaccines. The company is currently working to expand its reach across the country, with the construction of four new distribution centers to serve the entirety of Ghana, and the upcoming delivery of medical products and supplies directly to patient homes.

Zipline enables healthcare facilities to safely receive medical products such as vaccines, blood, and medications in roughly 30 minutes, improving access while also reducing delivery emissions by up to 98% compared to traditional delivery methods. Partnering with organizations such as GAVI, Pfizer, and UPS, Zipline is supplying a cost-effective solution to aid in Ghana’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution while at the same time reducing vaccine waste and the need for costly investments in cold chain infrastructure. As of today, Zipline has helped to deliver hundreds of thousands of doses of COVID-19 vaccines so far.

“Our work in Ghana showcases the transformational power of instant logistics to strengthen health systems,” said Daniel Marfo, Senior Vice President of Zipline for Africa. “Together with our partners in the government, we’re pioneering a new, more effective and equitable healthcare model—one in which every patient across the country can access the tests, treatment, and supplies they need, wherever they are. The Secretary of State’s recognition validates our approach in setting an international standard for building a safe and sustainable system that improves health access and equity around the world.”

Stephanie S. Sullivan, U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, described Zipline as “a real game changer for Ghanaians,” when presenting today’s award. “Zipline’s logistics network made it a critical element of Ghana’s COVID-19 response,” Sullivan said. “In the last two years, the company delivered over a quarter million COVID-19 vaccine doses, personal protective equipment, and COVID-19 test kits to remote locations throughout the country.”

One of the U.S. Department of State’s highest honors, the Secretary of State’s Award for Corporate Excellence recognizes U.S. companies exemplifying American values and international best practices in addition to demonstrating leadership in their overseas operations. The Health Security category acknowledges Zipline’s work in improving access to critical health security products through its instant logistics infrastructure.The award was accepted by Daniel Marfo, Zipline Senior Vice President for Africa, on behalf of the company.

Read more about Zipline in the U.S. for Walmart, for medical delivery in Utah, in Ghana, and Zipline investment.

Ian attended Dominican University of California, where he received a BA in English in 2019. With a lifelong passion for writing and storytelling and a keen interest in technology, he is now contributing to DroneLife as a staff writer.