While the Covid-19 pandemic continues to overwhelm hospitals around the world, in Nepal, we can count ourselves fortunate not to feel the full brunt of the virus. However, multiple reports and observations show that currently doctors and medical practitioners in Nepal lack protective gear and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) while dealing with suspected cases of virus infection and treating patients putting their own health and lives at risk.
In immediate response, Chairperson of National Innovation Centre Mahabir Pun initiated efforts to prepare Personal Protection Equipment (PPE). Observing lack of preparedness, Pun collaborated with Kavach to produce PPEs required by health and frontline workers.
Kavach Gears is a motorcycle riding gear company which designs and manufactures in Nepal. The entrepreneurs behind KAVACH, Arabindra Subedi and Jayanta Bhatta, repurposed their garment production unit to make the personal protective equipment.
Subedi explains, “The issue of the lack of protective gear for medical workers came to our attention through various media reports. This lack of protective gear makes doctors and medical practitioners on the frontline very vulnerable in contracting the virus. We started communicating with Mahabir Sir’s team and decided to collaborate with him as an immediate crisis response”.
The fabric used for the production of the PPE is both water and air proof with seam sealing. Subedi says, “Since we specialise in safety clothing, we decided to repurpose our production resources and started making PPE. We are basically utilising available raw materials, our skills, expertise and equipment as a response and an effort to mitigate the spread of corona virus.”
The reported cost to manufacture a set of PPE is Rs. 1,000. Additionally, it is reported that the samples were presented to the Chairperson of Nepal Medical Council, Dr. Bhagawan Koirala for quality assurance. Pun and the team at Kavach are working closely at the Nepal Innovation Center and the PPE’s are handed to government hospitals free of cost.
