he Honda Khiang Khang Thai Fund (HKKT), under the Honda Thailand Foundation, together with the Honda Group of Companies in Thailand, today delivered 1,000 units of the Negative and Positive Pressure Smart Face Shield, and 100 units of the Honda backpack sprayer to the Minister of Public Health, who presided over the donation ceremony. The Negative and Positive Pressure Smart Face Shield is a single face shield that can be adjusted to offer two different functions. It can be adjusted to be either a negative pressure face shield worn by COVID-19 patients to prevent virus from spreading out while transporting or be a positive pressure face shield worn by medical staff to protect themselves from infection. The medical staff can breathe easier while treating COVID-19 patients for a longer time thanks to the high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) Class H14 filtering technology that can trap airborne particles of 0.3 microns, along with a microcontroller system that maintains the required fan speed and lightweight lithium-ion batteries which allow 4 to 6 hour operating time. The donated items, worth over 40 million baht, will be distributed to 77 provinces nationwide through Honda's automobile and motorcycle dealer network during February 2021.
Mr. Pitak Pruittisarikorn, Managing Director of the HKKT Fund, said, "Following the successful development together with Vajira Hospital and production of the negative pressure mobile beds last year, our Honda engineering team didn't stop creating innovations to support Thai society. They came up with an idea starting from a prototype negative pressure face shield from the Urban Community Development College, Navamindradhiraj University to successfully develop the Negative and Positive Pressure Smart Face Shield. It passed an inverse leakage test by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation and passed a negative pressure test by the Faculty of Medicine, Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University, with excellent results ensuring it is applicable for medical use. Honda is proud of our associates who show their commitment and passion through social contributions, while the HKKT Fund is committed to fully supporting Thai society. For this donation, the HKKT Fund joined forces with Honda's automobile and motorcycle dealer network to distribute the items to hospitals nationwide. Combined with the previous donations last year, the HKKT Fund is making a donation collectively worth over 80 million baht to support Thai society in the fight against COVID-19. Through contributions when our customers purchase any Honda product including cars, motorcycles, and power products, I'd like to thank them for taking an important role in assisting society."
Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health, said, "The new wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand has resulted in a steady surge in the number of new cases, which means medical staff have to work harder while being put at a higher risk of infection. As a result, medical devices and equipment to prevent infections and reduce the risk of spreading the disease are greatly needed. I would like to thank the HKKT Fund, which represents a company in the private sector that operates and exists side-by-side with Thai society. This includes the cooperation among the various organizations that teamed up to develop and produce the Negative and Positive Pressure Smart Face Shield. They have taken this medical device to the next level, as it was developed by Thai engineers for Thai people and has proven its effectiveness in preventing virus spreading. The device is very practical and beneficial to medical professionals. We expect it will play an important role in helping medical staff and all Thais to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic."
Mr. Natchanon Saitanu, a representative of the volunteer engineers at Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co., Ltd., said, "As our team keeps an eye on the current COVID-19 situation, which will not be easy to resolve soon, we strive to help medical staff and patients as much as we can. Following the Negative Pressure Mobile Bed that was co-developed with Vajira Hospital, then produced and distributed in May 2020 mainly for use with patients, we continued to develop an innovation that meets the requirements of both medical staff and patients with an initial idea to create a device that is easy and convenient to use. With the support of the HKKT Fund, we transformed the prototype sketch in consultation with Navamindradhiraj University into the practical Negative and Positive Pressure Smart Face Shield. It can be adjusted to be a positive pressure face shield for medical staff to wear comfortably for 4 to 6 hours while working, or negative pressure face shield for use when transferring patients. We are very proud of this innovative device that is playing a role in curbing the COVID-19 outbreak."
Production of the Negative and Positive Pressure Smart Face Shield has already started at Honda's automobile manufacturing plant in Ayutthaya province, and the devices are expected to be ready for delivery to designated sites nationwide from mid-February 2021 onwards. With the new wave of the COVID-19 outbreak that Thai people are facing, the HKKT Fund wants to express its support for and give encouragement to medical staff and all Thais to overcome this adversity together. The HKKT Fund is ready to stand side-by-side with Thais, with a commitment to help, share, and create happiness for Thai people.
Source: ABM Connect