
KAMPALA-Makerere University has on April 16 donated items worth UGX85 million in support of the fight against the spread of Coronavirus.
The items were presented to the ministry of health by the University Vice Chancellor Prof Barnabus Nawangwe.
According to Mr Nawangwe, the items were contributed by the University community.
“These include, food items by MUASA and Sanitizers by all staff of Makerere University,” he said.
Mr Nawangwe added that are not only responding to COVID-19 through research and innovations.
“We thank the government for the efforts to keep our country free from the Coronavirus,” he said.
The Africa Centre of Excellence for Materials, Product Development & Nanotechnology (MAPRONANO ACE) established at the College of Engineering, Design, Art, and Technology at Makerere University, developed a self-sanitising facemask with an inbuilt sanitiser, allowing for real-time disinfection while at work.
In addition,Mr Nawangwe, revealed recently that the institution had made a break-through in developing rapid testing kits for COVID-19.
In a tweet, Nawangwe said: “I thank Dr. Misaki Wayengera and his team at the Makerere University Department of Pathology for the initiative to develop a rapid testing kit for Coronavirus.”
He added: “This is commendable given the devastation caused by COVID19.”
Makerere also announced that they had made progress in designing a low cost ventilator to support management of severe respiratory complications of Covid-19.