COVID-19 Safety Van

Doctor couple from Nagpur working with KRIMS Hospital Dr Tulika (dermatologist) and Dr Sameer Arbat (Interventional Pulmonologist) designed state-of-the-art COVID-19 safety van COVI-SAT. The initiative would now be undertaken as a social project in various cities including Raipur, Hyderabad city. The COVI-SAT or COVID-Van Integrated with Screening and Testing is a mobile van, which can reach remote areas for conducting community testing.

As you know, we are in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and the number of cases are rising with each passing day. There is a need for increased testing in the community while ensuring the chances of cross-infection to the health care workers (HCW) are minimum. Many attempts have been made to create mobile sample collection van but most of them are devoid of safety features, which can put the HCWs at risk. We have designed this van with a state-of-the-art safety chamber equipped with positive pressure and HEPA filters along with temperature control. I believe this van would be instrumental in increasing the number of samples collected in the community without putting the HCWs at risk of cross-infection. I am happy to share all details to replicate this project all across the country, said Dr Sameer Arbat.

Dr Tulika and Dr Sameer Arbat

The inauguration of the COVI-SAT was done at the hands of Guardian Minister of Nagpur Nitin Raut, Speaker for Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Nana Patole in the presence of Nagpur Divisional Commissioner Sanjeev Kumar in Nagpur. Dr Arbat donated the pilot van to NMC with funding from RK Ojha, Prabhatai Ojha Smruti Seva Sanstha and project design lead.

The doctor couple are consultants at KRIMS Hospitals, Nagpur. Dr Sameer has previously designed the Bronchoscopy Safety Box and Doctor Safety Assistant, both innovations highly appreciated by the international medical community for treatment of COVID-19.

KEY FEATURES

• The ‘COVID Safety Van’ is equipped with a Safety Chamber, which is airtight, temperature controlled and has positive pressure arrangement with HEPA filter.

• The positive pressure systems prevent any air from entering inside the chamber thus limiting any chances of virus infection.

• The sample collection window has disposable gloves, tray for testing kit, Ice Box, IR thermometer gun, stethoscope, hand sanitiser and disposal baskets.

• Public announcement system and printed information for public education and awareness. • The HCWs inside has access to an electronic tablet for entering details of every person screened.

• Screening and testing at remote areas or hotspots would reduce pressure on government machinery including transportation for large number of patients.

• Many suspected patients fear going to hospital for sample giving. Hence with mobile van more suspect patient will come forward voluntarily and get tested.

• Early, safe and timely detection of COVID-19 would reduce the mortality rate and save live.

• The sample collection should be done using the recommended Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and the safety box should be disinfected regularly as per recommended procedure.