IIT-M sets up 'doffing unit' for healthcare workers to safely remove PPE

Chennai, May 11 (I) Indian Institute of Technology,Madras (IIT, Madras) on Monday said it has set up a 'doffingunit' jointly with Chengalpattu Medical College and Hospitalin Tamil Nadu to enable healthcare workers there safely andeffectively remove Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

While 'donning' is the procedure of assembling PPE on thehealthcare providers, 'doffing' refers to its removal, arelease from IIT, Madras said, adding such procedures willhave to adhere to certain standard protocols to preventfurther spread of infections.

The premier institute's Civil Engineering departmentjoined hands with CMCH and the setting up of the modular unitat the government hospital was undertaken with financialsupport from corporates under Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR), it said.

"The entire design, fabrication and deployment of thedoffing unit took place remotely during the lockdown period,"it said.

Professors Koshy Varghese and Arul Jayachandran from theinstitute's Civil Engineering Department collaborated with theInnovation team of CMCH, and a multi-disciplinary team ofprofessionals successfully designed, fabricated and installedthe doffing unit, it added.

Vijayalakshmi, a staff nurse at the Covid-19 ward ofCMCH, was quoted as saying she felt safe "that I am notcarrying infection to my home and community." SA APRRAVINDRANATH APRRAVINDRANATH