Major Lê Mạnh Hùng and the automatic hand sanitiser dispenser that he invented. VNA/VNS Photo

GIA LAI — A technician at Military Hospital 211 in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai has invented an automatic hand sanitiser dispenser to prevent coronavirus infection.

Major Lê Mạnh Hùng, who works in the X-ray department, ordered components online and assembled them by himself.

He also designed solar panels to run the robot outdoors or in places without electricity. In early April 2020, the first hand disinfecting robot was put into use at the gate of Military Medical Hospital 211 in Pleiku City.

The robot has a 2W motor pump, running with a 12V battery, distributing between 0.5 and 5ml of sanitiser depending on the setting.

The dispenser is connected with a two-litre bottle of disinfectant and a spraying pipe. It also has a sensor which can recognise hands and ignite the pump to dispense liquid.

The machine is placed at the gate of Military Hospital 211 in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai. VNA/VNS Photo

The sensor TV screen attached to the machine also displays the 5K message.

Within a radius of 3-5m, the robot can recognise people around and speak, reminding people: "Please wash your hands and measure body temperatures. Thank you."

The body temperature measuring machine is connected to a computer, helping medical staff in the reception directly monitor temperatures without close contact. In particular, when detecting a person with a high temperature such as a fever, the device keeps releasing a warning sound to alert medical staff.

The robot can be placed at offices, elevators, corridors or mobile at training grounds and halls, Major Hùng said.

The sanitiser liquid box was designed in a small shape of 30cm long and 20cm wide.

Users can save time, avoid surface contact and limit the risk of infection at offices or classrooms, he said.

Hùng has built 14 automatic hand sanitiser dispensers. His invention received first prize at a national creative technical competition of medical and military sector in April 2021.

Teacher Mai Thị Thúy Hiền, principal of Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm Primary School in Pleiku City, said Major Hùng donated a dispenser to the school.

Since it was operated in September 2020, it has shown its efficiency.

“Before we had the machine, we had to mobilise teachers to measure body temperatures and spray disinfectant at the school gate. Thanks to the robot, teachers now can save time and prevent overcrowding at the school gate,” she told Vietnam News Agency.

Colonel Trần Vương Linh, director of Military Hospital 211, said the hospital was marked a ‘green’ facility because it is one of a few hospitals in the areas without COVID patients.

The invention of Major Hùng has made positive contribution to the hospital’s prevention and control work, Linh said. — VNS