Addis Ababa University Institute of Technology (AAiT) manufactured high standard hand sanitizer for the protection of COVID-19 outbreak and formally announced its achievement to the media on Tuesday April 7, 2020.

Esayas Gebreyohannes (PhD), AAiT Scientific Director, said “Our Sanitizer, which is manufactured in liquid form, meets the quality standard set by the World Health Organization”

“Since the prevention of the coronavirus pandemic is a common issue, our institution is doing a lot of research. The hand sanitizer we have just produced is one of the highlights of our success” Esayas said.

“If the virus gets worse, we are on the verge to make air filter Helmets to better protect our health professionals” He added.

“Protecting our health workers means protecting the sick either directly or indirectly, from the plague” Esayas said.

Ato Feysel Abdalla, Chief of Chemical Engineering Library at AAiT, in his part said “The product hopefully fulfills the requirements of the World Health Organization that the sanitizer needs.”

Ato Feysel urged that the public should use the sanitizer only if there are no access to soap and water.

Libsewerk Negash (PhD), from Electrical and Computer Engineering department, said “We are fighting hard to protect our small number of medical staff from COVID-19.”

“Safeguarding our medical heroes from COVID-19 attacks means protecting and saving our patients from this deadly disease” Libsewerk asserted.

He said that they are preparing face masks for medical professionals to looking after patients in close contact safely.

“If someone is likely to be in close contact with someone infected, a mask cuts the chance of the disease being passed on” Libsewerk noted.

Theodros Shewangizaw April 8, 2020

Photograph by Andualem Assefa