By Dr. Joseph Matiko
In response to COVID-19 pandemic, The Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT) has been working to develop solutions to help society protect against the pandemic. Some of the products developed by DIT include hand sanitizers, automatic hand washing machine, face shields, reusable laser frame design just to mention a few. Some of these products are produced in the DIT Design Studio. The Institute is in the process of developing Ventilator Machines to assist hospitals in responding to COVID-19 pandemic.
The DIT Design studio is a result of the collaboration between DIT and the Rice 360° Institute of Global Health (USA). At the studio, students get to learn how to use 21st Century hands-on skills and techniques to solve real-life problems. DIT Design Studio has been working informally with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in undertaking various experimentation and rapid prototyping of technological and scientific ideas. In particular employing some technologies to produce Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) serving public and private hospitals in Tanzania as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The beneficiaries of the products include Muhimbili National Referral Hospital, CCBRT, Amana Regional Referral Hospital, and The Aga Khan.
The DIT Design studio is a result of the collaboration between DIT and the Rice 360° Institute of Global Health (USA). At the studio, students get to learn how to use 21st Century hands-on skills and techniques to solve real-life problems. Through the design studio we have been able to
- 3D print face shields and ventilator splitters.
- Iterate on face shield designs directly with Tanzanian doctors.
- Manufacture over more than 1000 face shields.
- Innovate laser cut face shield design with optimized cost and manufacturing time.
- Offer technical advice to hospitals and fellow makers in the response face.
An impact that has reached numerous hospitals including Muhimbili National, CCBRT, Amana, Aga Khan.
DIT was established by an Act of Parliament No.6 of 1997 as a high technical training institution in Tanzania. DIT is committed as an agent of industrialization, a progressive and customer-centered institution. It is positioned towards supporting the efforts by the 5th phase Government of the United Republic of Tanzania (URT) led by His Excellency Dr. John Pombe Joseph Magufuli to transform the country into an industrialized economy by 2025 through production of highly skilled labour force to work in industries or establish their own spinoffs. DIT is therefore progressively expanding and consolidating her services. Furthermore, of recent years there has been an increase in the unemployment of our graduates as the market requires ready-made technical staff or engineers.
The Writer is the EASTRIP Project Manager and Center Leader at Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology