(ERGO) – A team of scientists at Puntland State University (PSU) School of Medicine have succeeded in producing a locally-made hand sanitizer, spurred by the restrictions on imports due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Demand for such hygiene products has been increasing, as awareness is raised among citizens of ways of preventing the spread of the virus.
Abdirahman Adan Gambol, head of the medical laboratory at PSU, told Radio Ergo that it took two weeks for his team to produce the locally-made hand sanitizers after getting the go-ahead from the university management. He said production, which is testament to the know-how that exists within the country, is at the testing stage.
“We have only made 15 pieces so far, each containing 100 ml, as demonstration samples,” said Gambol.
He added that making the samples was the easy part, as they followed guidelines and standards from the World Health Organisation.
“Production was easy and one could make thousands of units if you have a well-equipped lab and chemical supplies, which we don’t have in this country,” he said.
Gambol explained that if they could get the required chemical supplies, they could produce at least 1,000 units per day.
Jama Farah Hassan, Puntland’s Minister of Health, told Radio Ergo that his ministry would do everything it could to support the university’s initiative. He said others should be encouraged to make products locally.
He added that he was one of the first users of the hand sanitizer made by the university team and he was confident about its quality.
Mohamed Ali Farah, the director of Puntland’s Ministry of Education, saw the accomplishments of the PSU team, and the efforts by local universities in general, as the results of his ministry’s work over the years to improve the quality of education in the state.
