Since the country was struck with COVID-19 infections, the Central University of Technology, Free State’s (CUT) Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing (CRPM) has been using their technological expertise to assist the province with medical equipment. CUT partnered with Old Mutual and donated at least 1000 face shields, 1000 respiratory masks and 10 000 filters to the Department of Health. The handover took place at the official opening of the converted parking space which will now be used as expanded bed space for COVID-19 patients and the 60 High Care Beds at House Idhalia, both situated at Universitas Academic Hospital.

Dr Gerrie Booysen, Director: Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing (CRPM) explained that in March, they began working alongside clinicians from the Department of Health to identify problem areas. “The clinician respirators was one because of supply chain issues regarding importing these products into the country, so we went through a rapid product development process to get to a final product assisted by the 3-D printing and tooling that had to be made to end up with a product today that is actually tested and can be rolled out into the community,” said Booysen.

The high quality FMP2 CUT Clinician respirator was developed, manufactured, tested and regulated all in three months highlighting the exceptional product development capabilities in the Free State.

In the beginning stages of the project, Old Mutual recognised the impact that the CUT Clinician FMP2 mask could have in the lives of Free State clinicians and co-funded with CUT the first donation of 1000 face masks and 1000 face shields to the Department of Health, Free State.

Old Mutual contributed R170 000 and the CUT added a further R85 000 to manufacture the much-needed PPE. The CUT, MerSETA CICAM, DSI MedAdd and PDTS also sponsored the manufacturing of injection moulding tooling to the value of R 993 600 to be able to mass-produce the mask, straps and filter housing.

“As Old Mutual, we are quite privileged to have been able to make a meaningful contribution to the free state community in partnership with CUT. We truly cherish the role that we play, and we are quite excited that this clinician respiratory mask will save lives, not only our doctors but also lives in our communities. We are not only being concerned with the financial well-being of our community but we’re equally concerned about the well-being of our people and their safety, and we hope that our contribution will go a long way in enabling a positive future for our community. We are thankful for the partnership with CUT and the role that they have played,” added Silas Sebiloane, Interim Provincial General Manager of Old Mutual.

The CUT Clinician mask is fully developed and tested and is currently in production and 2000 units can be manufactured each day.

Captions:

1: FS Health MEC, Ms Motsheng Tsiu; FS Premier, Ms Sisi Ntombela; CUT Director: CRPM, Dr Gerrie Booysen and Interim Provincial General Manager of Old Mutual, Mr Silas Sebiloane.

2: Old Mutual and CUT partnered to donate 1000 face masks and 1000 face shields to the Department of Health, Free State. The CUT Clinician mask is fully developed and tested, 2000 units can be manufactured each day.

3: CUT Director: CRPM, Dr Gerrie Booysen and Interim Provincial General Manager of Old Mutual, Mr Silas Sebiloane.