Air Force produces oxygen therapy unit in amidst fear of ventilator shortage

The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has produced what a senior officer in the service called a ‘Heated Humidified Oxygen Therapy Unit’ amidst fear of an imminent shortage of oxygen for Covid-19 patients

The Heated Humidified Oxygen Therapy Unit, which would benefit the patients with respiratory difficulties, was officially handed over to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat on Wednesday (12).

The President Media Division said in a press release: “In order to face the imminent shortage of ventilators in the country in the face of the COVID 19 global pandemic, the Heated Humidified Oxygen Therapy Unit was innovated with the contribution of Professor Ranil de Silva, Dr. Thilanka Ratnapala and a team of medical experts as per the instructions of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and as a concept of Vidya Jyothi Dr. Bandula Vijay, who is a renowned ambassador in the international innovation arena.

The device is capable of delivering temperature-controlled oxygen with full humidity at high capacity to patients with respiratory complications.

The Maintenance Unit of the Air Force Engineering Corps manufactured the unit under the guidance of Air Force Commander Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana and supervision of Group Captain Prasanna Martino. After inspecting the limitations, safety features and performance standards, the unit was presented to the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) of Sri Lanka and the University of Moratuwa has confirmed compliance with the Electrical Safety Standards.

Although it has been earlier estimated that it will cost Rs. 1.5 million to manufacture a unit, it has been completed at a lower cost of Rs.300,000. At present, 50 kits are planned for production and will continue to be manufactured as required by the health sector.

The functionality of the device was demonstrated to the President during the presentation. Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Defence Secretary-General (Retired) Kamal Gunaratne, Secretary of Health Sanjeewa Munasinghe and Commander of the Air Force Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana were also present.”