From various innovations to award-winning ideas that can save the world, Africa is not only diverse in its people but also in its industries and creativity.
Africa, a continent beaming with beauty and diversity, has produced some incredible ideas, be it in business, science, art or entertainment, thus debunking the myths, misconceptions and stereotypes about the continent from the Western world.
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town, South Africa, Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng once said “The world is used to seeing Africa as a continent of need but we are a continent of creators, innovators, entrepreneurs, teachers and professionals.
South Africa has been one of the countries hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic in Africa.
The second wave, no doubt overwhelmed the health sector and the shortage of ventilators and breathing apparatuses became a growing concern.
However, an amalgamation of doctors, engineers and designers rose to the occasion in South Africa and invented an oxygen device known as OxERA.
OxERA is made from an anaesthetic facemask, accumulator bag and adjustable mechanical peep.
Simply known as the Umoya project, the group of inventors at its helm has provided a solution for oxygen provision to patients with severe Covid- 19 infections, who are almost entirely reliant on Oxygen for the duration of their stay in the hospital.
The leader of the team, Dr Craig Parker said “This is unique. It takes the benefits of an oxygen mask and some of the components of non-invasive ventilation onto that simple oxygen mask and ‘fills the gap’ between the devices that we have available at the moment”.
The invention is supposedly easy to adapt, being used in rural and urban hospital environments.
Since its approval for use by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority, the group hopes to produce 15,000 units per week.
Forbes Africa/ Olaitan Oye- Adeitan
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