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DOST grants P4.7-M for sanitation cubicle fabrication

By Ma. Cristina Arayata

May 20, 2020, 7:11 pm

<p>SaniPod sanitation cubicle (P<em>hoto courtesy of DOST</em>)</p>

SaniPod sanitation cubicle (Photo courtesy of DOST)

MANILA -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) provided more than PHP4.7 million grant for the design and fabrication of sanitation cubicles meant to be distributed to various hospitals.

The amount will cover the production of five prototypes to be used in the Philippine General Hospital, said DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development executive director Jaime Montoya in an email to the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Wednesday.

"The research grant will also cover the testing of the prototype in entry/exit areas for healthcare workers," he added.

Called SaniPod, the sanitation cubicle was developed by researchers from the University of the Philippines-Diliman, using locally sourced materials.

Montoya said the project started last April 27 and will be finished on October 27.

According to DOST, the SaniPod has acrylic walls for easy cleaning and disinfection of external and internal surfaces. It is also installed with automatic motion sensors to activate the entrance and exit doors, with different disinfectants coupled with UV light.

It also uses a foot sanitation unit to disinfect the shoes.

These features will decrease contact to the cubicle's surfaces, the DOST added.

"SaniPod is a modification of tent-based sanitation booths. It is envisioned to be more efficient due to its control systems featuring an automated mist spraying mechanism upon entry of healthcare workers, as well as a foot sanitation feature to ensure maximum disinfection of healthcare workers," Montoya said.

He added that the SaniPod was designed to fit the hallways of hospitals so it can be efficiently deployed inside. (PNA
 
 

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