The Pasteur Institute in Shillong, an oldest and premier institute in Meghalaya, has developed an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
The hand sanitizer was launched by Meghalaya health minister AL Hek on Monday at the institute.
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The hand sanitizer was the initiative and innovative idea of the medical superintendent of Ganesh Das Government Hospital, Lawmali, Dr N Wanswet, and other experts in line with the standards recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The hand sanitizer was developed in various sizes of containers.
“Such initiative is a proud moment for all of us and this gives hope to our state especially at this time while fighting COVID19,” Hek said while lauding Dr Wanswet and others involved in developing the hand sanitizer.
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According to Hek, Pasteur Institute will be the future and a game-changer for the state as far as the health scenario is concerned.
The Pasteur Institute, Shillong was established on November 4, 1915, in the lines of other Pasteur institutes in the country for the purpose of controlling diseases through the usage of vaccines.
Dr Wanswet, who is also the director of health services (research) said the institute has developed the hand sanitizer due to the high demand for hand sanitizers in the state.
“We introduced a small scale manufacturing unit at the Pasteur Institute to cater to the needs of the healthcare workers and the general public with an aim to supply safe and effective hand sanitizers for the citizens,” Dr Wanswet said.
The manufacturing follows the WHO recommended formulation.
The hand sanitizer manufactured by the unit is alcohol-based and it is kept in quarantine in a clean, spacious, air-conditioned room for 72 hours in order to allow time for any spores present in the alcohol to be eliminated by hydrogen peroxide.
During the launching programme, the health minister distributed hand sanitizers to the press persons and also inspected the annex building of the Ganesh Das MCH Hospital which has been turned into an isolation ward for suspected COVID19 cases.
Meanwhile, Hek informed that under the leadership of Dr Wanswet, Ganesh Das Hospital has also admitted expecting mothers, especially those, who have been referred to the government hospital from Bethany Hospital.
“It is an inspiration and at the same time express our gratitude to our doctors and staff of Ganesh Das who work so hard in the fight against COVID19,” Hek said.