University of Nairobi Creates Ventilator Model to fight COVID-19
The University of Nairobi is the second university after Kenyatta University, to come up with a ventilator to help in the fight against Coronavirus.
Many scientists and great minds over the years have always warned of the possibility of extinction of the human race. It could be due to a pandemic disease or an asteroid strike from space. The whole world has been brought to a standstill. The world economies have also been greatly affected.
With talk of a return to normal life and gradually reopening of key sectors of economies all over the world, it is increasingly becoming clear that people will have to continue living side by side while trying to avoid the risk of infection. Surely, as Kenyans we need all the help we can get.
The advantage of the UoN ventilator is the price it comes with. It is likely to reduce the price of existing ventilators by almost 90%.
UoN Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kiama Praises Ventilator Team
During a demonstration ceremony lead by the key figures involved in the development of the ventilator, Prof. Stephen Kiama, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nairobi appreciated the teams’ efforts in ensuring a cheap ventilator becomes a reality.
Prof Kiama also added that the ventilator will not only help during this COVID -19 pandemic but also with many respiratory problems in the years to come after even the passing of COVID 19.
Uon Ventilator Uses Artificial Intelligence, Solar, and Works Remotely
The ventilator uses an open-source software from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. And having secured the approval of the Food and Drugs Association, it is not likely to have many stumbling blocks in getting KEBS approval.
The ventilator will then be available to be applied to help sick people who have breathing problems.
It is usable with multiple power sources, including solar power. Therefore, it is able to be used in remote locations without mains electricity.
The ventilator uses biometrics and data communication, and also has external data storage. Data collected by the device can be used in the medical and engineering fields. This will enable data analytics and big data modeling of records of patients that can be used in further research.
The ventilators incorporated artificial intelligence on a small scale. Therefore it can be operated remotely. This means that patients at home can use it as it is being operated by a medical expert who may not necessarily be at the patient’s location.
This feature of the ventilator will go a long way in helping reduce deaths that happen as patients have had to be resuscitated manually in ambulances on the way to the hospital.
Production Team Members of the UoN Ventilator
The Production team of the ventilator includes Dr. Peter Akuon (EIE) Team Leader, Prof. J. M. Mbuthia Co-Lead, Internet of Things Laboratory, University of Nairobi, Prof. Frederick Were, Medical Doctor, Respirator Expert, UoN Medical School.
Others involved includes Dr. Ernest Odhiambo, Mechanical Engineering, Davies Segera and Benson Onyango, from Electrical Engineering, and lastly Kinyua Wachira and  Faris Abdulrahman from Electronic Engineering.
The team is currently seeking funding to enable them start producing the ventilator.
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