They're a world leader in using drones for healthcare. But drones can't do it all

Global Health They're a world leader in using drones for healthcare. But drones can't do it all August 4, 20267:05 AM ET Fatma Tanis A drone, just returned from a delivery, swings into the landing mechanism in Muhanga, Rwanda. The country's government has contracted with American robotics company Zipline to deliver emergency blood through drones since 2016. Claire Harbage/NPR hide caption toggle caption Claire Harbage/NPR MUHANGA, Rwanda – Noella Mukanoheli was nine months pregnant and bleeding out. It took her three hours to see a doctor. First, she made a 50-minute trip to the clinic that serves her village, riding on the back of a friend's motorbike. There was no doctor on staff so they called an ambulance to take her to the nearest hospital. It was only about 10 miles away but took two hours to get there because of the country's challenging roads. Her husband, who was with her, says she lost consciousness en route. When she arrived, doctors said she needed five liters of blood. That's considered a "massive transfusion" in medical terms –– an emergency measure to replenish virtually all the blood in a human body. Sponsor Message But the hospital didn't have her blood type, so doctors had to order it. The blood arrived in mere minutes. The method of transport: two drones, which dropped their precious packages in the Muhanga hospital courtyard. When Mukhanoheli awoke hours later, her hand immediately went to her belly. "My doctor said I had given birth and the baby was alive, but I would have died without the drone," says the 42-year-old, who experienced the traumatic event in April. Noella Mukanoheli, 42, lost five liters of blood while she was in labor with her child. After a three-hour journey to the nearest hospital, she learned they didn't have her blood type. Minutes later, a drone dropped off the blood — a life-saving delivery. Claire Harbage/NPR hide caption toggle caption Claire Harbage/NPR This harrowing story shows the promise of drones in a country wher...