According to the CSIR, the first batch of ventilators will be provided to state hospitals around the country that are experiencing issues due to the unavailability of equipment to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
These ventilators are Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices that provide a mild level of oxygenated air pressure to keep the airways open and assist with breathing.
They are non-invasive and are able to be deployed and applied easily, making them effective at addressing the shortage of breathing apparatus across the country. These ventilators will be applied within and outside of hospitals for intervention in cases where patients are at an early, not-intensive stage of respiratory distress caused by COVID-19.
This means the CSIR’s ventilators can be used in field hospitals and quarantine facilities as well as normal hospitals.
See South Africa builds its own ventilators to fight COVID-19 – Photos
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The CSIR has developed a locally-produced ventilator in collaboration with a number of partners, and it is now being rolled out to hospitals nationwide.