SAHIWAL: A team of doctors at the District Headquarters Hospital in Vehari has developed a cost-effective “face shield’’ which they claim can protect those treating Covid -19 patients at health facilities and isolation centres.

The indigenous shield or mask will cost just Rs25 against the price of the imported shield that ranges between Rs850 and 1,000.

The product is the brainchild of young doctor Mohsin Mumtaz who serves as the consultant surgeon at the Surgical II Unit of the DHQ hospital. Dr Mohsin claims that the shield covers face, ears and neck and protects the user while interacting with coronavirus patients.

Those performing the duties at the front desks can also use it. He says there is no need to use the N-95 mask.

He says Vehari is the most affected district where 74 confirmed patients of Covid-19 are being treated and thankfully, not a single doctor or paramedic has been affected with coronavirus.

“This is because of the face shield developed by a local team of doctors,” Dr Aslam, pulmonologist, told Dawn.

It is learnt that the local health authorities provided 30 worn-out shields to the health practitioners given by the Punjab Medical Unit when N1H1 virus broke out last year.

“The problem with shield was that it could be used one time and when it was chlorinated the whole front glass got blurred after washing,” Dr Mohsin said and added he and Dr Aslam decided to develop it locally.

He said it could be developed with a plastic card or X-Ray card (16 X10 inches), elastic band etc. He said the face shield could be reused simply by cleaning it with spirits.

The young doctor also discussed it with Vehari Deputy Commissioner Waqas Rashid who appreciated the idea and it was decided that face shields would be developed at safe places and later these would be sent to other isolation centres.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2020