P4.7M allotted for research, development of disinfection pods for health frontliners

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has earmarked a P4.7 million funding for the research and development of a self-containing cubicle for the sanitation of health frontliners, President Rodrigo Duterte said in his report to Congress Monday.

Image of the SANI-POD from the DOST-PCHRD website.

Dubbed the “SANI-POD,” the research and development project is a partnership among doctors of the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila and engineers of UP Diliman, President Rodrigo Duterte’s report to Congress on Monday said.

“The DOST approved the funding of a P4.7 million research and development (R&D) project to develop SANI-POD, a self-containing cubicle with air shower meant for sanitizing frontliners as they exit COVID-19 patient wards,” the report stated.

Further, the report said five prototypes are being eyed to be produced which will be used at the UP – Philippine General Hospital (PGH).

In an earlier statement by the DOST Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD), it said that SANI-POD “will ensure that medical personnel are given an extra layer of protection from COVID-19” apart from the protective gears they wear.

DOST-PCHRD explained that acrylic walls will be used in the cubicle for “easy cleaning and disinfection of external and internal surfaces when placed in highly contagious and dense areas in the hospital.”

Automatic motion sensors are installed to activate the entrance and exit doors. Further, the cubicle will have different disinfectants coupled with UV light and a foot sanitation unit to disinfect the undersurface of shoes.

“This will decrease contact with the surfaces of the cubicle, leading to lesser chances of microbes staying on the surfaces,” DOST-PCHRD explained.

EDV