The Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State has unveiled drone technology to combat the spread of river blindness in Owo and Ose Local Government Areas.
The initiative, launched on Friday, aims to reduce cases of the disease, which has long caused severe skin conditions and blindness among residents.
Speaking at the event themed “Eradicate River Blindness Blackfly With Drone”, the council chairman, Mr. Tope Omolayo, said the local government partnered with King’s College African Leadership Centre to design autonomous drones equipped with Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven spraying systems to target blackflies.
Omolayo explained that the technology would help safeguard the people and support institutions such as the Ondo State School for the Visually Impaired in Owo. He added that the drones would conduct surveillance, track breeding sites, and spray insecticides in areas inaccessible by land.
“These drones are the product of combined efforts by the Owo LG technical team. Using drones to apply insecticides will enable us to identify breeding sites in hard-to-reach areas and sensitive habitats where blackflies breed.
“And we will deliver the insecticides with lower environmental impact and improved safety for our communities,” he said.
The Local Government Project Director, Chief Ologan Olanrewaju, noted that drones fitted with high-resolution cameras and thermal sensors are already being deployed globally for similar health interventions.