Stellenbosch University produces PPE and medical robot
At the university, several notable efforts have gone into the production of personal protective equipment, innovative tools for patient management and treatment therapies. For instance, the 3D printing laboratory of the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery at Stellenbosch University has been repurposed to print and assemble much-needed visors for front-line workers. Also, food scientists made 18 litres of alcohol-based hand sanitiser from stale bread crumbs in an in-house fermentation tank.
Additionally, a Professor of Pulmonology at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) has produced a Double Robotic robot that allows medical staff to perform ward rounds virtually, especially among intensive care patients, thereby protecting medical staff from the risk of infection. Again, Stellenbosch University (SU) and a South African biotechnology company have partnered towards the development of human therapeutic proteins which they hope will assist in the treatment of patients with severe effects related to the COVID-19.
