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AGARTALA: A Tripura doctor has developed a PPE face shield that costs only Rs 40, to protect frontline medical personnel from contracting COVID-19 during patient treatment.
A face shield is protective gear with a clear visor attached to a headband.
Protects the user from coming into contact with respiratory drops through which, according to the World Health Organization, the new coronavirus spreads.
Dr. Arkadipta Choudhury, an assistant professor at the Tripura School of Medicine (TMC), said he developed the face shield, ‘Stopdrop,’ using inexpensive materials available.
With the coronavirus outbreak affecting product delivery, Dr. Choudhury made the face shield out of compressed polyester, inexpensive straps, and visors.
The medical institution where he works purchased 300 pieces of ‘Stopdrop’ after rigorously testing the product and placed an order for 2,000 more units at Rs 40 per piece.
“The manufacturing cost of a face shield used in personal protective equipment (PPE) is only 20-25 rupees, but it is sold in the range of 250 to 499 rupees in pharmacies and online retail platforms,” said the doctor. 31 years old. The practitioner told PTI.
“In accordance with guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Health, PPE kits, including face shields, are released only to personnel treating COVID-19 confirmed patients. However, with the number of asymptomatic patients on the rise, medical personnel are at increased risk of contracting the disease, “he said.
Its products are already in use in the ENT, Ophthalmology and Gastroenterology departments and in the hospital’s OPD.
“The virus we are dealing with is a respiratory virus that enters the body through the mouth or nose. So I helped medical personnel cover their faces,” he said.
Dr. Arindam Dutta, Medical Superintendent of the hospital and chair of the institution’s COVID-19 working group, said: “We are using face shields in our hospital. The doctors are very happy and find them very useful. Dr. Choudhury It has also made slight modifications to face shields according to the requirements of various departments. “
The head of the ENT Department, Dr. Prabir Saha, said that Dr. Choudhury’s face shield effectively prevents medical personnel from coming into contact with the respiratory drops.
“When medical personnel collect samples from a patient’s mouth, he or she is at risk of contracting the disease. Dr. Choudhury’s face shield is very helpful since PPE is issued only to personnel dealing with confirmed patients of COVID-19, “he said.
Dr. Shivasekhar Dutta, a professor of preventive medicine at the hospital, said ‘Stopdrop’ is a creation of Dr. Choudhury.
“The device can also be useful for police personnel and journalists.
We will approach the brand office in Kolkata to obtain a design approval to begin commercial production, “said Dr. Choudhury.
