THE Harare Institute of Technology (HIT)has completed the
testing of ventilators it developed this year and is ready to move to the
production stage once funding is secured to import components.
This was said by HIT Vice Chancellor Engineer Quinton
Kanhukamwe when he appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on
Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development yesterday.
Ventilators are critical in fighting the worst symptoms of
Covid-19. They are used to deliver room air or oxygen into the breathing
circuit to treat patients with conditions like pneumonia or during mass
casualty events.
HIT developed its first ventilator early this year
following the outbreak of the disease, which resulted in a global shortage of
the ventilators.
Eng Kanhukamwe said they had successfully tested three
versions of ventilators at the University of Zimbabwe and Parirenyatwa Group of
Hospitals.
“I want to say to date we have developed three versions of
ventilators and ventilators come in different shapes and sizes and I am happy
to say that with the guidance of international standards organisations
framework on production of ventilators, all the three versions meet those
standards.
“I also want to assure the committee that our ministry will
be leaving no stone unturned for the mass production of those. The issue that
is delaying mass production is foreign currency. We need foreign currency for
specific components before we can begin production and supply our hospitals,”
he said.
He also invited well-wishers willing to partner the
institution in the production of the ventilators.
Appearing before the same committee, Higher and Tertiary
Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister Prof Amon
Murwira said the gadgets had undergone rigorous tests.
“We are very excited that we are doing research in this
area and we are demystifying the issues of technology that we can do it.
“One of the issues that Covid-19 has shown is the ingenuity
of our people. Most of the time it was not apparent because there was no test,
but now when you are cornered that’s when you can see that the education model,
the 5.0 has really changed everything.”
The production of ventilators is among one of the
interventions by institutions of higher learning in fighting the Covid-9
pandemic with most of the universities now producing sanitisers, face masks and
other personal protective equipment.
The institutions are also involved in research on the
treatment of the disease. Herald
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