KIGALI, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Rwandan biomedical engineers have developed a ventilator following the COVID-19 outbreak, which is the first locally made ventilator in the central African country.
"We have produced the prototype of respiratory ventilators and we have conducted tests to confirm if it is functional. The machine is working well," Costica Uwitonze, one of the developers, confirmed with Xinhua on Tuesday.
The prototype, developed by biomedical engineers from Integrated Polytechnic Regional Center (IPRC), was revealed to media on Monday during a test to check its functionality of supplying oxygen in lungs.
Several technical tests on the machine had been made, using the lung simulator and gas flow analyser, Uwitonze said in a telephone interview, adding that the results of tests meet international standard.
The developers came up with the idea of producing locally made ventilators following the reported breathing complications caused by COVID-19 in areas where the virus has killed people due to lack of ventilators, he said.
He said they are looking forward to producing more locally made ventilators that are affordable to Rwandans and would be used to aid in breathing difficulties among COVID-19 patients and other ill patients who are physically unable to breathe on their own, once it is approved by the ministry of health.
Sabin Nsanzimana, Director General of Rwanda Biomedical center, told Xinhua that it is the first locally made ventilator.
"The production of local ventilators is just amazing and we must all support these young scientists to make it and invent more," he said in a written message.
According to him, Rwanda doesn't have enough ventilators as it prepares for "all scenarios." Although Rwanda has needed medical supplies, it needs and continues to upgrade its stock as the situation evolves, he said.
The developers said the locally made ventilators will be available at a much lower price compared to imported ones.
Their supervisor, professor Stephen Rulisa from School of Medicine and Pharmacy at the University of Rwanda, told Xinhua that the prototype works well and it is "really encouraging to see that our young engineers can produce something smart like this."
The Rwandan health ministry on Monday evening said the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the central African country remained at 147, while the number of recoveries rose to 80. Enditem
