IT answered call with 4,500 visors
IT Sligo has delivered over 4,500 visors for Covid response teams.
In response to a call from HSE, the college assembled a project team to manufacture face-visors to assist front-line staff during the the Covid emergency.
Some 4,500 visors have been produced and distributed across the region to date.
Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council Councillor Tom MacSharry has expressed his gratitude to the IT and especially Ruth Moran who coordinated the programme.
“This gesture is greatly appreciated by Sligo County Council and Sligo Community Support Forum. The distribution of the facemasks to a wide range of groups has been an invaluable resource and is welcomed by the many people delivering essential services across our county.”
Project coordinator Ruth Moran, Reseach Office at the IT revealed that there were currently 99 volunteers supporting the manufacture of three types of visor, a cross functional team deriving from the functions of engineering and design, science and research.
There were also volunteers from the Students Union involved.
“IT Sligo has been working closely with local community services for the distribution of our face-shields and with the help of our local HSE, Gardaí, Local Authorities, Order of Malta- Carrick on Shannon we ensure our face-shields are getting to the areas they are needed most.
“At IT Sligo we have also collaborated with the HSE to source surgical gowns and surgical masks on their behalf.
“We have also been collaborating daily with the HSE on both a national and regional scale and there is currently a daily supply of 80-100 faceshields been distributed to mainstream HSE.
“A secondary supply of visors have been distributed directly to local nursing homes both private and public, carer associations, Chime Deaf Society, Garda stations, GP practices, vets, pharmacies, local ambulance services and local authorities across the northwest and western region,” she said.
Ruth also outlined other projects which the IT has been involved with.
“In response to Covid-19 and in conjunction with our colleagues at Sligo University Hospital and our colleagues in Limerick and Clare, IT Sligo has been designing and prototyping Ventilators.
“The design of our Ventilators will be available on Open Source shortly. The IT has been collaborating with local Garda to design a Visor Clip which will be of great assistance to Gardai on front-line duty.”