Mozambique: Partners threaten to withdraw funding for infrastructure projects due to contractors non-compliance
Covid-19: ISCTAC producing international-quality alcohol gel in Beira – Mozambique
2:46 CAT | 20 Apr 2020
Photo: O País
The Alberto Chipande Institute of Science and Technology (ISCTAC), a Mozambican higher education institution based in Beira, called the press on Sunday to announce that a team composed of public health and chemistry specialists had been producing multi-use alcohol gel to World Health Organisation standards in its laboratories for about a week.
ISCTAC hopes to help make up the shortfall of this Covid-19 prevention product in the national market. The product will be tested by the competent authorities later this week.
The first litres will be delivered to the communities of the city of Beira and the district of Búzi under government supervision.
“The alcohol gel that we are producing is to first benefit the most deprived communities and health units in the city of Beira and the district of Búz, in an action that will be coordinated by the government through the health sector,” Júlio Taimira, vice-rector of ISCTAC, explained.
“We chose Beira and Búzi because they are the areas that suffered most from Cyclone Idai about a year ago. Many of the communities in the area are still in great need.”
ISCTAC estimates that it can make 2,000 50-millilitre units in the first 30 days.
“Our goal at this point is to help people to prevent this disease, which unfortunately does not yet have drugs to treat it. Our focus is not commercial. It means taking on our social responsibility and supporting those who need it in this difficult time. We want to ‘give a hand’ to those who really need support,” Taimira said.
O País reported last Thursday that two companies in Sofala province were turning to the production of alcohol, destined to health facilities. The development was announced by the Secretary of State for Sofala province Stella Pinto Zeca during a meeting of the public health emergency operating committee on Wednesday, April 15.
Zeca announced at the same occasion that the measure hoped to assure supplies of the product, in great demand due to efforts to prevent Covid 19.
Stella Pinto Zeca said that, if the two companies could produce enough alcohol, some could be sold to the public.
By Francisco Raiva
Source: O País
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