Tatlong proyekto sa ilalim ng University of the Philippines SIBOL (Surgical Innovation and Biotechnology Laboratory Program) ang bumida sa webinar na inorganisa ng DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) para sa National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) 2020.
Bunga ng health research and development ang mga proyekto na layuning makatulong sa COVID-19 response ng bansa.
“PCHRD mobilized its resources to foster partnerships and generate solutions that will mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on our communities,” ayon kay Dr. Jaime Montoya, executive director ng DOST-PCHRD sa “PagSIBOL ng Pandemya: Health R&D COVID-19 Initiatives” webinar.
Una sa bumida ang Powered Air-Purifying Respirator (PAPR) para sa healthcare workers.
Hinihiwalay nito ang nalalanghap na contaminants sa hangin, sa pamamagitan ng battery-operated blower, para malinis na hangin ang dadaloy sa suit ng gagamit.
Bukod sa mga health workers, kadalasan din na ginagamit ng PAPR ang mga bumbero, sundalo, welders at mga nasa laboratoryo.
“The PAPR protection factor is definitely higher than the rest of the respirators, take into account that these are now worn for almost extended amont of time,” ani Dr. Samuel Arsenio Grozman, project leader ng local PAPR.
Lumabas daw sa isang pag-aaral na kayang harangin ng PAPR ang maliliit na pathogen particle o organismo na nagdudulot ng sakit dahil gumagamit ito ng high efficiency filters. Nagbibigay din ito ng proteksyon sa mata.
Ang nakikita lang na hamon ni Dr. Grozman sa proyekto ay ang high maintenance at mahal na gastos sa materyales.
“Our PAPR design is projected to be cheaper to what’s available in the local or international market. It’s flexibility and reusability will bring down the cost.
“If the initial capital outlay can be decreased, the long term cost may be decreased as well. This makes the PAPR an attractive choice.”
Sa ngayon tatlong models ng PAPR na raw ang na-develop ng team ni Dr. Grozman. Nasimulan na rin umano nila ang testing ng mga produkto.
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, PPE DISINFECTION PROJECTS
Sunod na bumida ay ang CleanIntubate, na proyekto ni Engr. Jason Pechardo, isang materials engineer ng UP Diliman – Department of Mining Metallurgical and Materials Engineering.
Layunin naman ng proyekto na bigyan ng ligtas na disinfection ang laryngoscope blades na ginagamit sa proseso ng tracheal intubation.
Kadalasang ginagawa ang tracheal intubation procedure kapag ang isang indibidwal ay “unconscious” o walang malay at hirap sa paghinga. Naging madalas ang prosesong ito kapag nag-aagaw buhay ang COVID-19 patients.
“Endotracheal intubation has been identified as a high risk activity for generating aerosoles in transmission of the virus.”
“The tedious process of cleansing and disinfecting places health hazards on the part of the medical personnel. One mistake can lead to an explosion of infection within the hospital walls.”
Sa ilalim ng proyekto, bumuo ng “minimal touch system” technology ang team ni Engr. Pechardo para hindi na kailangang hawakan ng health workers ang ginamit na laryngoscope blades sa paglilinis.
“Has an automated systematic algorithms that automates the process, but is triggered by a single touch.”
Panghuli sa ipinresenta ay ang proyektong Sanipod ni UP SIBOL director Dr. Edward Wang. Isa raw itong uri ng self-contained disinfection cubicle para sa mga healthcare workers na nakasuot ng personal protective equipment (PPE).
Ang pinaka-layunin ng proyekto ay magamit habang nasa pre-doffing o bago tanggalin ng healthcare worker ang kanyang suot na PPE. Hanggang sa ngayon kasi ay wala pang teknolohiya para sa “routine disinfection” ng PPE’s
“Imagine the amount of viral load that’s staying on the PPE of a healthcare worker… upon removing the PPE you can very well imagine how the healthcare worker can get contaminated again. And what about the safety officers who are helping him remove the PPE? All of them can also get infected,” ani Dr. Wang.
Una nang sinabi ng Department of Health (DOH) na hindi nila inirerekomenda ang spraying at misting bilang disinfection strategy dahil sa health hazard nito.
Sa ngayon nasa proseso pa raw ng pagre-rehistro ang invention patent ng Sanipod.
“We are looking for co-investment, co-funding, partners and co-investors to fund the useability, marketability and field testing.”
Bukod sa nabanggit na mga proyekto, abala rin ang DOST-PCHRD sa iba pang inisyatibo para matugunan ang sitwasyon ng bansa sa COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are also working with various partners in repurposing existing drugs and supplements , utilizing telemedicine for COVID-19 prediction, generating laboratory and hospital equipment, and preparing for our participation in the WHO Solidarity Vaccine Trials… by showcasing health R&D COVID-19 initiatives we hope to emphasize the impact of health research in addressing real life societal problems,” ani Dr. Montoya.
Makikita ang iba pang research and development initiatives ng Department of Science and Technology at local scientists sa “Kalusugan” cluster booths ng virtual Exhibit Hall ng NSTW 2020 website na: https://nstw2020.dost-nstw.org/
