Kenya students build respirator to battle COVID-19

Kenya's Kenyatta University is awaiting approval to begin trials of its locally designed respirator, which it hopes can save lives and save money in the battle against COVID-19.

A team of students from different disciplines such as engineering, medicine, nursing, computer science and pharmacy have teamed up to manufacture "Tiba Vent" - a ventilator meant to solve the shortage of the equipment needed to treat those most seriously affected by the coronavirus.

There are three universities in Kenya racing to make respirators.

The students from Kenyatta University conceived the idea in March, developing a prototype.

Tiba Vent has successfully undergone quality testing under the watch of institutions set up by the Kenyan government, including the electrical safety standards certificate, calibration certificate and production certificate.

Currently the team is waiting for approval from Kenya's Ethics Review Committee, which looks into the safety of any equipment meant to be used on humans, after which they expect to take the ventilator for clinical trials.

The shortage of ventilators in Kenya inspired the students to develop their own at a much lower price.

According to Fidel Makatia, a 23-year-old student of electrical and electrical engineering, each Tibu Vent will cost less than 2 million shilling ($20,000), compared to the 4.5 million shilling ($45,000) it takes to import a ventilator.

The dean of the School of Engineering and Technology at Kenyatta University, Shadrack Mambo, said they can produce up to 50 respirators a week as soon as Tiba Vent is given the green light.

David Misango, a consultant anaesthesiologist and chair of Critical Care Society of Kenya, praised the efforts of the students, saying if their model was approved the machines could go "a long way" in helping the country deal with severe COVID-19 cases.