DRDO Develops 'Ultra Swachh' For PPE Disinfection, Helping Healthcare Warriors Across Country

Over the course of the lockdown in the country, numerous doctors and healthcare staff came out and spoke about the shortage of PPE kits in hospitals and the health hazards they have to face considering the highly infectious disease.

Last month, the police in Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh roughed up a doctor, tied his hands and dragged him on the road for allegedly creating nuisance and abusing the state government in an inebriated condition, the Hindustan Times reported. The officers tied Dr Sudhakar¡¯s hands and bundled him into an autorickshaw before taking him to the police station.

The video of Dr Sudhakar, bare-chested and being dragged on the street by a police constable, went viral on social media. He was earlier suspended after he alleged that the state was not providing enough PPE kits and N95 masks to medical staff combating the coronavirus pandemic. Similar stories emerged from many parts of the country, even as the government claims that the country is now producing lakhs of PPE kits on a daily basis.

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In a development that could now benefit millions of doctors across the country, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said that it has developed a disinfection unit named ''Ultra Swachh'' to disinfect a wide range of materials, including Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), electronics items and fabrics.

In a press release, DRDO said that the system uses an advanced oxidative process consisting of multiple barrier disruption approaches using Ozonated Space Technology for disinfection.

"The system is double layered with specialised ozone sealant technology ensuring trapping of ozone for the necessary disinfection cycle. It also has a catalytic converter to ensure environment-friendly exhaust -- only oxygen and water," the release said, as reported by news agency ANI.

"The system is in compliance with international standards of industrial, occupational, personal and environmental safety. The Ultra Swachh comes in two variants namely Ozonated Space and Trinetra Technology. Trinetra technology is a combination of ozonated space and radical dispenser. Treatment is optimised with automation for quick disinfection cycle," it added.

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Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), the Delhi-based laboratory of DRDO has developed the product with industry partner Gel Craft Healthcare Private Ltd Ghaziabad.

According to the Health Ministry, India on June 1 witnessed the highest-ever spike of 8,392 COVID-19 cases, while 230 more deaths were reported in the last 24 hours.

The total number of coronavirus cases in the country now stands at 1,90,535 including 93,322 active cases, 91,819 cured/discharged/migrated and 5,394 deaths.