Navajo Nation officials weigh tech options to increase access to health care and medicine
Deliveries are challenging on remote parts of the Navajo Nation due to the lack of road infrastructure and transportation. Although official agencies and mutual aid groups continue their efforts to distribute the necessities during this global pandemic, not everyone has had access all the time, creating uncertainty for many.
Drones may be part of the solution in getting food, medicine and supplies to those who live in the most remote parts of the Navajo Nation during this yearslong global pandemic.
Mark Atlan is the CEO of a company called ZappCare, which is proposing telehealth, mobile health care units and drone deliveries on the Navajo Nation.
“This opens the door to get elders and others the medication or supplies they need, especially during harsh weather when they can’t get out of their driveway or live on an unpaved road,” Atlan said.
He spoke at a demo on Jan. 22 — a cold and windy day, but the sun was shining bright, illuminating a blue MissionGo drone as it hovered with the Window Rock in its backdrop. The drone carried an orange box filled with various medicines, demonstrating how one day, this type of aircraft could possibly be the solution to helping elders and others living in rural parts of the Navajo Nation receive vital prescriptions and other items.
Drones, or “unmanned and remotely piloted aircraft,” can carry medical necessities to those who need it the most but are having a difficult time traveling to health care facilities to receive it, Atlan said.
He is originally from Gallup, N.M., and is a member of the Chiricahua Apache Nation.
Atlan said the company was created in direct response to the pandemic and how hard the coronavirus hit the Navajo Nation.
“We asked ourselves the question why Native Americans, specifically the Navajo Nation, were hit so hard, and focused on developing a solution.”
Former Miss Navajo Nation Shaandiin Parrish said she can see how drones could help.
“If we can transport the dire medication our people need, or even give them the resources they don’t have, it would save many lives,” she said.
Because of the pandemic, the Navajo Nation Fair and the Miss Navajo competition were canceled, and Parrish agreed to hold the title for an extra year. During her two-year reign, Parrish visited all 110 chapter communities to register people to vote and also to distribute donations alongside the Navajo Nation President’s Office.
“The whole purpose of bringing this resource to our people is to make sure people way out in places like Navajo Mountain get their medication they need,” she said, “because it takes two hours for an ambulance to get there.”
Atlan’s company was founded by individuals who are members of Navajo, Apache, Pauma Band of Luiseño and Cado tribes.
“ZappCare’s vision is to extend the lives of Navajo citizens by providing immediate access to safe, equitable, mobile and digital health care solutions,” Atlan said. “We also want to support the IHS with non-emergencies, to reduce wait times and access, so IHS can focus on emergencies and specialties.”
Atlan met Scott Plank, founder of MissionGo, a year ago. Through conversation, they were able to establish a partnership, where MissionGo would supply the aircraft and pilots.
“He told me about the challenges of the community the size of West Virginia with limited roads, weather challenges, long distances and limited fuel stations,” Plank said. “We immediately brainstormed with our teams about this demo and this idea.”
They displayed three different types of drones during the demo. The cost to make each kind, Plank said, is something they don’t talk about.
Functionality wise, the drone takes very limited input from a human pilot, because it has an autopilot on board. One of the drones can carry up to 15 pounds. Once fully equipped, it can weigh as much as 55 pounds. Before the take off, a flight plan is programmed, which is initiated by a pilot.
“The aircraft takes care of the rest, all the way from the take off, flight and landing,” said pilot Ryan Henderson. “The range the aircraft is capable of is anywhere up to about 40 miles.”
This article was originally published on Source New Mexico. To read the original article in full, click here.
