By Francis Ogwo
The battle against the novel coronavirus pandemic has led the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ondo State into a new product of a hand sanitizer that functions in both manual and automated.
According to a statement by the Head of Media and Protocol, Mr. Adegbenro Adebanjo, the hand sanitizer was produced through the Technology Park and Incubation Centre of the institution, while adding that the objective of its manufacture was to keep the fight against the deadly virus in the country going with the university maintaining unflinching support.
In his words, “The device was conceptualized and developed by four faculty members and two students of our university. The handwashing device is specifically developed to take care of the peculiar situation of our society in the case of an erratic supply of electricity and power failure/outage; usage in places where there is no electricity supply.”
According to him, the product could be used in offices, markets, and in other public places as protection against the deadly virus.
Adebanjo further explained that with the device which comprises of two compartments: the mechanical part that enables users to make use of pedal systems to dispense soap, water and sanitizer, and the automated part, “the user does not need to interact with the device.”
“The user places the hand close to the dispenser, while the device dispenses soap and water, which runs for 20 seconds in accordance with the recommendation of the World Health Organisation (WHO), and sanitizer in succession at regulated times.
“A beep signal is heard each time the device is ready to dispense the liquid. The automation is made possible by the inbuilt sensor and other components. In this dual-purpose device, the user can switch from manual to automation as the case may require.
“The main features of the device include the sensor and other components: soap outlet, water outlet, sanitizer outlet, pedal for sanitizer, pedal for water and pedal for soap.”
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Joseph Fuwape, had said that the device represents what the institution stands for in the country’s technological development.
