Chipping in the national effort to fight coronavirus pandemic, the Indian Navy has indigenously designed and manufactured Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)and this product is comparatively cheaper than those now available in the market. This product comes weeks after the Navy successfully manufactured handheld thermal gun to gauge body temperature.
Giving details about the PPE, officials said here on Thursday the product was tested by the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences(INMAS), Delhi, a Defence Research and Development Organization(DRDO), tasked with the testing and certification of PPE. The PPE was certified to be mass produced and used in clinical COVID situations, they added.
Shortage of PPE during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is of serious concern as it imperils the well-being and availability of the Healthcare Workforce, apart from adversely impacting their security and morale. The PPE is required to meet stringent criteria on testing and the benchmarks of the same are set by the Indian Council of Medical Research(ICMR) and the Health Ministry.
The naval PPE passed with 6/6 Synthetic blood penetration resistance test pressure. (the Indian government mandates minimum 3/6 and above level as per ISO 16603 standard) and is thus certified to be mass produced and used in clinical COVID situations, officials said.
The outstanding features of the PPE are its simple, innovative and cost-effective design; thus it can be made by basic gown manufacturing facilities. The PPE is noteworthy for the innovative choice of fabric used, which gives the PPE its 'breathability' and penetration resistance rendering it both comfortable and safe for the user. The cost for this PPE is significantly lower than those commercially available.