Authors:Faatiema Salie, Trust Saidi Abstract: The response to the challenges arising during the COVID-19 pandemic has seen the rapid implementation of innovative technological solutions which have been built on established knowledge and resources. This has been reflected in infection, prevention and control practices (IPC) to minimise the transmission of the disease. In this article, we review ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) as such a technology. We illustrate the way it has traditionally been used in airborne and surface disinfection strategies, and how it has, more recently, been adapted. UVGI has been widely used as an environmental IPC measure against tuberculosis in South Africa, though challenges have been experienced in the implementation of the technology in public healthcare facilities. This has resulted in the development of a knowledge and infrastructure base. We posit that, given the established UVGI resources in South Africa, the technology may be a viable environmental IPC solution for the COVID-19 period and beyond. PubDate: 2020-11-03 DOI: 10.15641/ghi.v3i2.1009 Issue No:Vol. 3, No. 2 (2020)
Authors:Daniel Atwine, Yvonne Wanjiku Karanja, Arti Ahluwalia, Carmelo De Maria, Dawit Assefa, Victor Konde, Edwin Khundi, Philippa Ngaju Makobore, Mainen Moshi, Martin Nzomo, Muhammad Ali Rushdi, Robert Tamale Ssekitoleko, June Madete Abstract: The mission of healthcare systems in Africa to deliver compassionate and effective care has been constrained by growing populations, increasing burden of disease, political conflict and limited resources. The impacts of these constraints can be substantially alleviated, and the healthcare services strengthened, through the creation and adoption of affordable, accessible and appropriate biomedical engineering systems and technologies. There is an urgent need for building capacities in biomedical engineering, innovation and entrepreneurship in African countries. The African Biomedical Engineering Consortium has been organising a series of Innovators’ Summer Schools to meet this need by empowering students and researchers with entrepreneurial and innovative skills, and facilitating the design and development of robust, appropriate, and commercially viable medical systems and devices. In this paper, we analyse and discuss the impact of six of these schools held between 2012 and 2017. We used a questionnaire-based survey to collect responses from students who had attended the summer schools. The results of this study demonstrate that the teaching-learning model adopted in the ABEC summer schools was largely effective in promoting biomedical engineering skills, career choices, professional networks and partnerships amongst young African engineers and life scientists who attended the summer schools. PubDate: 2020-10-28 DOI: 10.15641/ghi.v3i2.1004 Issue No:Vol. 3, No. 2 (2020)
Authors:Caroline Zabiegaj-Zwick, Andrew Brown, Marie-Louise Loos, Stewart Cleeve, Marko Nikoloski, Arjan Bastiaan Van As PubDate: 2020-10-26 DOI: 10.15641/ghi.v3i2.971 Issue No:Vol. 3, No. 2 (2020)
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