NILAI, March 25, 2020 – Faculty Science and Technology, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) takes the initiative to produce face shield for the use of the health front liners in the fight against Covid-19. The project was initiated by a group of lecturers of the faculty headed by Dr. Mohd Ifwat Mohd Ghazali.
The face shield is a crucial component of self-protection worn by the health officers together with the Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) against direct exposure to the Covid-19 virus.
Understanding the current situation faced by the front liners who are strongly battling in fighting this pandemic and the responsibility to be assisting and providing continuous support to the front liners, Dr Mohd Ifwat and fellow lecturers suggested to USIM Management the idea to produce face shields to be provided to hospitals for free with all cost born by USIM.
Faculty of Science and Technology uses a 3D printing machine to produce the template of the face shields. The final product will be worn with a protective disposable plastic shield that is also provided by the faculty to ease the health team operation.
According to Dr Mohd Ifwat, the production of the face shied is done in phases beginning from last Monday. “ We have five unit of 3D printing machine that are used in teaching and learning activities which we can fully utilized for this noble aim. Each machine has the capacity to produce 5 to 10 units of face shileds per day and as of today we have successfully produced 40 units.’
“Currently, the demand and usage of face shields are very high at hospitals but supply now is very limited as front liners are at all times handling suspected and positive Covid-19 cases. Their health are highly at risk, hence a fully equipped protection gear must be worn at all times by our health teams”.
“Alhamdulillah, 12 sets of face shields with disposable plastic protection have been sent to Hospital Tunku Jaafar, Seremban and 10 more sets to Hospital Ampang Jaya. We also provided 2 sets for USIM security officers on duty at the main entrance of the university as they are responsible to screen body temperature of every incoming staff and visitors to the campus through out the Movement Control Order period. We also received requests from other hospitals and clinic and we are trying our best to fulfil the order as soon as possible”.
The materials used to produce a face shield are 3D filaments, A4 transparent sheets, foam padding, glue, tapes and elastics rubber. The lecturers involved in this project are Dr. Muhammad Zamir Othman, Dr. SM Shahrul Nizan Shikh Zahari, Dr. Azira Khalil, Dr. Mohd Azrul Mohd Yunus, Dr. Sofina Tamam and Cik Siti Nazurah Md Jusoh.
Prepared by:
Zaini Othman
Pusat Komunikasi Strategik (StraComm)
Aras 1, Canselori Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM)
71800 Nilai, Negeri Sembilan
