NGO, netizens design face shields for health workers

KOTA BHARU, March 24 — Concerned about the safety of health personnel following the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), several quarters have taken their own initiative to design and make their own face shield for use by frontline personnel in addressing the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.

Among them is a non-governmental organisation, the Kelantan chapter of Pertubuhan Amal Perubatan Ibnu Sina Malaysia (PAPISMA), which is working to create its own DIY face shields to be distributed to staff at health facilities, as well as government and private hospitals, in the state.

“The supply of face shields in hospitals and health facilities is running low, and it may take a long time to order, as well as involves high cost. So, we are called to create our own DIY face shield, which will not only save time, but also cost, said its chairman, Dr Tengku Ahmad Damitri Al-Astani Tengku Din to Bernama.

He said 15 PAPISMA members and a few volunteers comprising the local community, got together since three days ago to make the DIY face shields.

“The face shields will be distributed in stages to hospitals and health facilities in the state, including Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital (HRPZ II), Kota Bharu, Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital (HUSM), Machang Hospital, Sultan Ismai Petra Hospital (HSIP) in Kuala Krai, as well as health clinics and private clinics,” he added.

Over the past few days, health care providers have been worried about their health due to the shortage of PPE to be used in the handling of COVID-19 cases.

A search on the Facebook site found a similar initiative by a group known as the 3D Printing Malaysia Community for COVID-19, which gathers netizens to create face shield through the 3D printing technology.

The community, established last March 22, now has 697 members who have contributed various ideas and prototypes for face shields.

A member of the community, Nurfaiz Foat, when contacted, said the first batch of the face shields which he sent for testing by specialist doctors from various departments and hospitals had been approved.

“The face shields have been used at several facilities, including Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, Health Clinic at Precint 18 Putrajaya and Sungai Buloh Hospital,” he said, adding that the face shields were given free.

“My wife is a MO at Serdang Hospital, so the risk of infection is higher. That is the reason that led me to mobilise this initiative. I want to promote the idea that all of us, the general public, can also help in these critical times, ”said Nurfaiz, a product designer at a local technology company. — BERNAMA

Source: Bernama