DRDO at the forefront of fighting Covid-19
In a bid to fight against the deadly coronavirus pandemic, the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation), using its scientific endeavour, has developed a host of protective equipment, ventilators and sanitisation equipment for helping the frontline workers.
The DRDO has developed 11 such products to combat the coronavirus. These products include visor-based fullface shield, isolation shelter, mobile area sanitisation system, advanced N99 masks, personal sanitisation equipment, portable backpack area sanitisation equipment, advanced PPES (Personal Protection Equipment) for doctors and frontline health workers, ventilators and sanitisers.
With an anticipation of a growing need for ventilators in the coming days for patients fighting the coronavirus, the DRDO’S Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory in Bangalore, in partnership with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Scanray Pvt Ltd in Mysuru, will develop modern and portable ventilators at the earliest. And, according to sources in the DRDO, works on the development of such ventilators are progressing and each scientist and technician is working to come up with the best and most advanced form of ventilator.
Apart from this, a personal sanitisation equipment which is a full body disinfection chamber has been developed by the DRDO’S Vehicle Research and Development Establishment laboratory in
Ahmednagar.
This personal sanitisation equipment, which is currently being used at the entrance of many markets across the country, is a walk-through full body disinfection chamber. It is a portable system equipped with sanitiser and soap dispenser. The decontamination is started using a foot pedal at the entry. On entering the chamber, an electrically operated pump creates a disinfectant mist of hypo sodium chloride for disinfecting. The mist spray is calibrated for an operation of 25 seconds and stops automatically, indicating completion of operation.
An official from the DRDO told The Sunday Guardian, “The person who enters the chamber will have to keep their eyes closed as per the procedure because of the disinfectant. This system consists of roof mounted and bottom tanks with a total of 700 litres capacity and approximately 650 personnel can pass through the chamber for disinfection until the refill is required.
This system can be used for disinfection of personnel at the areas of controlled ingress and egress such as entry and exit to hospitals, malls, office buildings and critical installations.”
A large number of deaths in the United States, especially New York, due to coronavirus, may impact President Donald Trump’s attempt for second term, believe many US citizens. His supporters are, however, confident of him winning the fight against the deadly virus and re-enter the White House. But Trump is visibly worried. A US journalist has commented: “For Trump, coronavirus proves to be an enemy he can’t tweet away.” Diplomatic pundits believe that Trump is on the edge as the number of casualties is rising in many American cities. No one knows yet whether the “unproven drug” hydroxychloroquine would even work against the coronavirus. Trump wants to try out everything against the virus and wishes to “kill it” before the US Presidential election.
Man Mohan can be contacted at rovingeditor@gmail.com