Head, face shield for docs treating corona cases

LUCKNOW: A team from the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (Dr APJAKTU) has developed head and face shields for medical practitioners attending Covid-19 patients. Doctors of the Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences are the first to use it.

Prof AK Tripathi of Lohia Institute said, “The senior faculty members and resident doctors will use the head and face shields in addition to the protection they are using at present. They will share shortcomings, if any, to help the technical university make a final product.”

The headgear developed by AKTU that works for training and research in technical education, covers the entire head and face up to the neck and may cost between ₹40 and ₹70. Otherwise such head gear was part of the personal protection equipment (PPE) kits, said Prof Tripathi.

Dr Srikesh Singh, the spokesperson of the institute said, “The medical team will also observe and note the shortcomings and they shall be rectified by the technical team of the AKTU.”

To note, the Lohia institute has set up an isolation ward for corona patients. A meeting between doctors of Lohia institute and a team from AKTU, including Dr Anuj Sharma of the Centre for Advanced Studies, was held in which it was discussed whether more equipment could also be made. “Making of a sterilization equipment was discussed. We may hold another meeting for further discussion with AKTU vice chancellor Prof Vinay K Pathak,” said Prof Tripathi.

“If we develop such items indigenously, production can also be done at regional level and then there will be no shortage of such things,” said Dr Sandeep Kapoor, director, Healthcity hospital and a public health expert.

The shortcomings, including size compatibility, will be communicated to AKTU team on a daily basis. The trial by doctors of the institute may be over in a week.