Ensuring safety of its frontline health workers involved in fighting the pandemic, the Ranchi district administration has taken up the task of manufacturing ICU grade PPE kits using affordable alternatives to reduce the production cost as well put an end to the short supply of the same.
The single use kits are being made in compliance with SITRA- South Indian Textile Research Association certified by the Ministry of Textile Affairs using laminated non woven fabric at a cost of Rs 250 each. As many as 800- 1,000 such kits are being manufactures on a daily basis.
The manufacturing process started about three weeks back and so far thousand such kits have been put to use while another 6,000 will soon be dispatched for health workers in other districts including Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, and Sahibganj. With domestic flights resuming from May 25, the personnel protective equipment has also been provided to the airport personnel in the State capital.
“The Covid- 19 crisis came with the challenge to make maximum use of available resources at hand and the district initially worked on a simplistic protective gear kit. The PPE kits being made right now use simple solutions and alternatives to make it more affordable and easy to make. The PPE production was started to overcome the situation prevalent at a particular time in the Covid crisis and the success shows how Make in India can truly work. Over a period of time, a total of 15,000 PPE kits will be handed over to the Ranchi Civil Surgeon,” said Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Rai Mahimapat Ray.
All raw materials including non woven fabric, elastic, Velcro and the thread is being procured and arranged for by the Ranchi district administration. The kits are also being sanitized using a sodium hypo- chloride solution.
The kits are being manufactured at a local textile industry- Arvind Mills in Manki and a team of about 80 women from the rural areas around the State capital are involved in the same.