At the end of 2020, medical staff and Thais had to face a new wave of COVID-19 and the situation continues to evolve. The Honda Khiang Khang Thai Fund (HKKT), under the Honda Thailand Foundation, together with the Honda Group of Companies in Thailand, has continued development and is now producing a Negative and Positive Pressure Smart Face Shield. It is a compact, lightweight, and easily carried mask that is specially designed to prevent infections and the spread of COVID-19, and can be used both for patients and medical staff who face high risk when treating patients. This equipment is a further development from the negative pressure mobile beds that were previously produced in a cooperative effort between Vajira Hospital and the HKKT Fund and donated to 96 hospitals nationwide in May 2020. This time, the HKKT Fund plans to produce 1,000 units of the Negative and Positive Pressure Smart Face Shield and 100 units of the backpack sprayer, a product in the Honda power product category. The items, worth a combined total of over 40 million baht, will be donated to 77 provinces nationwide during February 2021.
Mr. Pitak Pruittisarikorn, Managing Director of the HKKT Fund, said, "Following the development and production of the negative pressure mobile beds that were delivered to hospitals nationwide last year, the HKKT Fund is very proud to say that our engineering team didn't stop developing, but continued to come up with ideas such as this innovative equipment. After four months of effort, they developed the Negative and Positive Pressure Smart Face Shield, which was designed to effectively prevent the infection and spread of the virus as it uses high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) Class H14 filtering technology that can trap airborne particles of 0.3 microns. A microcontroller system maintains the required fan speed for convenient use, while the lightweight lithium-ion batteries provide a 4 to 6 hour operating time. This breakthrough equipment will be produced at Honda's car production plant in Ayutthaya province so it is ready to use in the new wave of the virus that is spreading. It will be another crucial part in helping medical staff, patients, and Thais to get through this pandemic together."
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Prof. Dr. Anusaeng Chitsomkasem, Associate Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University, said, "The Negative and Positive Pressure Smart Face Shield developed and produced by the HKKT Fund has passed the medical equipment standard test from the Department of Science Service, Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation. It can be used with both positive and negative pressure, which makes it the ideal item for fighting the new wave of the virus. As the number of new cases continues to rise, there is increasing demand for medical equipment among medical staff to prevent and reduce infections. A Power Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) is a necessary item of Personal Protective Equipment for medical staff who treat COVID-19 patients, or patients with other airborne transmission diseases. Currently, Thailand has a total of less than 5,000 units of PAPR. Therefore, the Negative and Positive Pressure Smart Face Shield that the HKKT Fund developed and produced will help reduce the risk for medical staff and COVID-19 patients more efficiently. As a special feature, it can be adjusted to negative pressure, which will help to make the transfer of COVID-19 patients easier and more convenient, and is a new advanced alternative for treatment."
In May 2020, the HKKT Fund, under the Honda Thailand Foundation, together with the Honda Group of Companies in Thailand and Honda's network of car and motorcycle dealers nationwide, played a pivotal role in supporting Thai society to combat COVID-19. The HKKT Fund produced and provided 100 negative pressure mobile beds and delivered them together with other medical equipment, worth over 40 million baht, to 96 hospitals through Honda's car and motorcycle dealer network nationwide. Together with the 1,000 units of the Negative and Positive Pressure Smart Face Shield and 100 units of Honda Backpack Sprayers, a product in Honda's power product category, which are worth a total of over 40 million baht and will be produced and distributed in February 2021, the HKKT Fund is making a donation collectively worth over 80 million baht to support Thai society in the fight against COVID-19.
Customers who buy any Honda product including cars, motorcycles, and power products play a role in supporting Thai society by making a contribution through their purchases. The HKKT Fund is committed to supporting Thai society to overcome COVID-19 and will not stop developments that are beneficial to Thai people, in line with Honda's commitment to creating value while striving to be a company Thai society wants to exist.
Source: ABM Connect