Nigerian Air Force NAF yesterday said it has unveiled two emergency ventilators produced by a team of researchers from the Air Force Research and Development Centre AFRDC, and Air Force Institute of Technology AFIT, Kaduna, in partnership with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University ABU, Zaria, in furtherance of its drive to provide indigenous solutions to tackle the COVID-19 Pandemic.
It explained that the emergency ventilators tagged ‘NAF E-Vents’, were unveiled by the Chief of the Air Staff CAS, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, in Kaduna.
“Before today’s unveiling ceremony, the prototype E-Vents had been subjected to successful animal testing using both canine and porcine test subjects. The objective of the animal testing was to demonstrate the capacity of the Ventilators to support recovery of patients with respiratory diseases, including Acute Lung Injury and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. The tests were also necessary to validate the effectiveness of the ‘Assist Ventilation Mode’, where the ventilator detects a breath from a patient being treated and synchronizes the equipment with the patient’s breathing.
The NAF E-Vents, which are intended for use when conventional invasive respiratory support resources have been exhausted, were found to deliver very satisfactory performance in air volume control and assist control modes and are now ready for human testing and further certification by relevant agencies,” Director, Public Relations and Information, Nigeria Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola said in a statement.
Chief of the Air Staff CAS, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar said the devastating effects of the COVID-19 require that ingenious and proactive steps be taken in order to protect lives and avert any form of national tragedy.
Represented by the NAF Chief of Standards and Evaluation, Air Vice Marshal Remigius Ekeh, the Air Chief noted that the NAF had continued to vigorously pursue a robust and result-oriented Research and Development (R&D) policy with emphasis on the provision of indigenous technological solutions.
“Our modest efforts have yielded results and positively impacted our operations,” the CAS added.
He noted that the team commenced work in early April 2020 and within 3 weeks had developed 2 prototypes.
He however emphasized that private sector investment would be required for mass production of the ventilators.
The CAS also noted that the unveiling ceremony was a further demonstration of his resolve to ensure that NAF continues to make significant contribution to the development of the country and thus become an Air Force that is the pride of every Nigerian.
Earlier, the NAF Director of R&D, AVM Paul Jemitola, said the NAF had made giant strides in the area of R&D under the visionary leadership of the CAS to the extent that R&D had become the norm in the Service.
“By investing in high quality training of personnel, innovative approaches to issues and encouraging out-of-the-box thinking, a lot of solutions to operational challenges in the NAF have been locally developed through R&D thereby saving huge resources,” he said.
He added that the culture of creativity engendered by the CAS is in line with his vision of self-reliance and self-sustenance in defence and other aspects of national life, especially at a time like this when all hands are on deck to confront the COVID-19 Pandemic.
