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KIU International Desk: Kenyan University Students Begin Production of Ventilators

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KIU, Western Campus – Students from Kenyatta University’s School of Engineering have begun the mass production of ventilators and nasal swabs to help meet the country’s health sector shortage as Kenya continues to grapple with rising COVID-19 infections, the BBC reports.

According to the BBC report, the University is currently producing 50 ventilators a week, for a diminished price, compared to imported ventilators. The Kenya Medical Research Institute has estimated that the country’s health sector needs at least 1,600 more ventilators to handle the current rising numbers of COVID-19 patients, which are expected to reach one million.

Biotechnology student Simon Karuga produces nasal swabs used in testing for COVID-19 using 3D printing in one of the university’s engineering labs.

University students across the African continent have come up with various innovations during the pandemic to help their governments in the fight against the Coronavirus.

Last month, university students in Uganda made ventilators which were certified as being capable of treating COVID-19 patients.

Picture credit: BBC