KUALA LUMPUR: Educational institutions have come together to produce face shields for frontline healthcare workers battling the Covid-19 outbreak.
At Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), a team of experts and volunteers are producing 5,000 face shields for frontliners at hospitals near the campus.
Team leader, Professor Madya Dr Samsuzana Abd Aziz said the face shields are expected to be completed in two weeks using latest 3D printers and additional volunteers, and would be for the UPM teaching hospital and Serdang Hospital.
She said a total 30 UPM experts and volunteers led by the ‘Putra Makers Space UPM’ based at the Faculty of Engineering, comprising 19 members of the faculty and six members of the Longe Medikal Sdn Bhd-Putra Science Park and five from the Faculty of Design and Architecture worked in collaboration with three UPM labs.
“We are able to produce 300 face shields a day using 13 3D printers. We use among others the DIY 3D printers like Creality Ender 3, Zotrax and 4max Pro as well as high-endurance printers like Ultimaker.
“The cost for the face shields is between RM1.50 and RM2.50 per unit. The raw materials we use are filament PLA for the 3D printing, transparent plastic and rubber,” she said.
She further explained that experts concentrated on designs that meet the best protection requirements as durability, effectiveness, while design tests have been carried out in several hospitals with the help of consumer feedback from NGOs.
Meanwhile, Engineering Faculty Dean, Professor Ir Dr Nor Kamariah Nordin said they received RM6,000 from UPM funds to purchase raw materials as well as other contributions and basic tools from the Higher Education Department, Ministry of Education and other NGOs such as the Malaysian Make & 3D Printing Communities, Maker@University and the public.
“This noble effort is a symbol of UPM’s social academic responsibility to the frontliners in curbing the Covid-19 infection,” she said.
She said the team was assisted by Dr Saiful Hasley Ramli who leads the Faculty of Design and Architecture lab; Muhammad Izzat Sabri, the executive officer of Longe Medikal which is the start-up company under UPM InnoHub Putra Science Park to commercialise the UPM medical technology and innovation; and deputy director of the UPM Putra Science Park Professor Madya Dr Wan Nurhayati Wan Ab Rahman.
Dr Kamariah also called for donations from those who want to help with the delivery of the face shields at the hospitals.
“For future projects, we are aiming to design personal protective equipment such as ventilator valves for our front line healthcare workers,” she said.
Also contributing to the nation’s frontline to address the outbreak is the Technical and Vocational Training and Education (TVET) Mara which is currently working on the production of protective equipment for the use of health and safety workers.
Mara Educational Institutions (IPMA) involved are its Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi (KKTM) in Kuantan, Ledang, Rembau, Mara Science College (MRSM) Sultan Azlan Shah and the Lubang Pasu MRSM.
They are producing face shields using 3D printers to donate to several hospitals in Kubang Pasu, Kedah; Klang Hospital; the Tuanku Ampuan Afzan Hospital in Kuantan; Tangkak Hospital; Muar Hospital; Kluang Hospital; the Sungai Mati clinic in Johor; and Health Clinic in Sauk, Perak.
Educators in two GiatMara institutions in Rasah, Negri Sembilan and here, as well as in Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi Mara in Rembau are using their teaching skills to produce 50 hoods, 60 pairs of socks and 350 pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) to donate to the Tuanku Jaafar Hospital and Ampang Hospital to reduce the risk of the infection.
According to Mara director-general Datuk Azhar Abdul Manaf, the current situation requires the skills and expertise of TVET educators.
“Although the contribution is not as big, given the current situation, with the skills and expertise of the educators, we are able to work hard and make a contribution to the country’s frontliners dealing with this pandemic,” he said.
He said besides the donations of protective equipment, Mara employees are also distributing food and prayer clothing such as the telekung to them.
Mara has also launched the Tabung Mara Prihatin fund to encourage donations which will be channelled to the national Covid-19 fund.