The Tamale Chapter of the Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana (TUTAG) has donated items worth ¢20,000 to the university’s hospital, the Prisons Service and the Sagnarigu Palace all in Tamale as part of efforts towards the fight against COVID-19.

The items included mechanized handwashing machines made by technicians from the university, nose masks, liquid soaps, hand gloves among others.

Presenting the items to the hospital, the Dean at the Faculty of Business, Alhaji Abdullah M. Inusah said they were to help the facility’s staff observe the precautionary measures laid down to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

“The mechanical engineering department has come out with this particular equipment, the fashion department also came out with the face masks we are all wearing, the catering department has also come out with the soap that we are using. This donation was a collaborative effort from all the departments” Alhaji Abdullah M. Inusah said.

Receiving the items on behalf of the hospital, the Director for Medical Services, Dr Abdul Malik Bawah said the items are essential and will enable health staff and patients to observe all the hygiene protocols being propagated in the fight against COVID-19.

Dr Malik congratulated the engineering department for the invention of the mechanised hand washing machine that enables one to wash and sanitise the hands without touching or coming into contact with the machine.

A member of the technical team, Engineer Tarlutu Ibrahim said the idea of a mechanised handwashing machine come up during a discussion on what the university and the department can do to aid in the fight against the virus.

He said the university is also considering inventing more for government and other interested institutions.

“We started the construction with the team and within nine days we were able to construct three of them because it’s our first time. I know very well that if we are to construct about 20 or 30 within two weeks we can do that” he said.