Fighting the good fight
The severe shortage of proper protective gear for our healthcare workers is a major concern that needs urgent solutions if we don’t want to see any of them contracting the coronavirus while on duty again.
Here are two more charity projects in need of donations from the public and organisations to help produce and provide necessary items for medical personnel at many hospitals who are working hard on the front lines of the Covid-19 disease.
“WASHABLE INNOVATIVE NANO MASKS” OR “WIN-MASKS” PROJECT
Initiated by the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital with the support by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science,
Research and Innovation, the project is currently crowdfunding for the production of a new kind of highly efficient surgical masks, using the anti-mite Nano fabrics from the Siriraj Dust Mite Center for Services and Research as the raw materials.
After further development by the Thailand Center of Excellence for Life Sciences and Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna, the WIN masks will meet the five key standards — particle filtration efficiency, fluid resistance, fit test, permeability test and washability.
This means that they can filter 2.5μm dust particles; prevent the permeability of phlegm aerosol or liquid secretions from the external surroundings of the wearer and also from the wearer’s sputum to the external surroundings; be worn comfortably on the face while preventing air from entering through the sides of the mask; allow good ventilation; and be washable.
The innovative masks will be produced by a qualified factory that has been awarded the standard certificate by the Food and Drug Administration. They will also be sterilised by Gamma radiation by the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology at the final stage of production.
The project has three phases. The first phase has been funded by the National Research Council of Thailand to produce 7,000 pieces for distribution to the major healthcare centres that have been identified as the critical outposts dealing with the pandemic.
For the second phase, a total of 5.5 million baht is needed through crowdfunding for the production of 100,000 masks that will be delivered to those who need them most according to the priority assessment on the situation. Then more masks will be produced for the general public to purchase in the final phase.
To contribute to the project, visit social.sinwattana.com.
“HA CHUDMI HAI PI MOR (LOOKING FOR PPE SUITS FOR DOCTORS)” PROJECT
Starting as a small project by a group of volunteers worried about the shortage of protective apparel for doctors treating Covid-19 infected patients, the project is getting bigger with the support of many organisations and people from various fields including doctors, university lecturers, engineers, researchers, computer network experts, fashion designers and factory owners.
The project is aimed at providing standardised PPE suits and PPE coveralls for state hospitals and also at producing all kinds of standard medical equipment by a team of engineers and doctors. Items include water-proof gowns, high-quality face shields with a certificate from the Food and Drug Administration, DIY disposable face shields, and UV light sterilisation boxes to clean N95 masks.
Donations can be made via money transfer to Kasikorn Bank account BuranaBuddha Foundation, number 0208999915; through PromptPay ID 0993000376056; or via buranabuddha. org/donation.
The project also acts as an information centre where people can learn more about the hospitals that are running short of medical items and where people of good will can check for the hospitals in need of donations.
Visit facebook/Hachudmi or email savethaidoctors@gmail.com.