Poly innovations impress ministry
Secretary for Labour, Skills and Innovation Esmie Kainja says government has every reason to invest in innovations that youths in the country have embarked on.
She was speaking Thursday after visiting The Polytechnic, a constituent college of the University of Malawi, to appreciate the innovative products being made at the college in response to with the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
Kainja said: “The innovation works that we have witnessed today are relevant and are responsive to the Covid-19 health prevention and protection. Youths at the university have come up with ventilators that can be used in our health institutions.
“Apart from ventilators, we have also seen how they are making masks, sanitisers and sanitiser sensors which can be used in places where there is congestion.
“There is more to be done to commercialise the products. The university needs to work with Malawi Bureau of Standards and the Malawi Poisons Board for standardisation and certification of some products, including ventilators that will be useful in hospitals and other important institutions.”
In his remarks, The Polytechnic principal Grant Kululanga said his institution is ready and willing to come up with more innovations which are already on demand.
He said: “We are willing to partner with industries through the Ministry of Labour, Skills and Innovation after a memorandum of understanding is signed. The products we are producing are going to benefit a lot of people.”
The locally made protective face masks and shields are designed to prevent infectious droplets from entering the eyes nose and mouth as well as prevent the one wearing them from touching his or her face. The product is reusable and provides frontline personal basic protection.
