UTech, Ja. Team Develops Hand Sanitizer in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic
Mrs. Tieca Harris Kidd (Right), Project Manager & Programme Director, BSc. in Pharmaceutical Technology and her team from the College of Health Sciences, from left: Mrs. Modupeola Abayomi, Lecturer, Ms. Rochelle Hamilton and Mrs. Ann-Marie Ferguson, Technical Staff and Ms. Lisa Scarlett, Lecturer – getting ready to make the COHS-produced hand sanitizers on location at the College of Health Sciences, UTech, Jamaica Papine Campus.
Mrs. Tieca Harris Kidd (left), Senior Lecturer and Mrs. Modupeola Abayomi, Lecturer, School of Pharmacy, consult on formulation for the COHS-produced hand sanitizers on location at the College of Health Sciences, UTech, Jamaica Papine Campus.
A team in the College of Health Sciences (COHS) comprising academic and technical staff has used its expertise in the development and production of a hand sanitizer formulation to contribute to the University’s efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The selected formulation for the hand sanitizer has been adapted from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
The team is led by Project Manager, Mrs. Tieca Harris Kidd, Senior Lecturer and Programme Director, BSc. in Pharmaceutical Technology and includes faculty members, Mrs. Modupeola Abayomi, Lecturer, School of Pharmacy who had responsibility for production and packaging, Ms. Lisa Scarlett, Lecturer and Medical Microbiologist, School of Allied Health and Wellness who handled formulation, and Academic Managers Dr. Janet Campbell-Shelly, Dean, College of Health Sciences and Dr. Andrea Daly, Head, School of Pharmacy who spearheaded distribution and communication with stakeholders.
Technical staff members on the project from the School of Allied Health and Wellness are Miss Rochelle Hamilton and Miss Chanel Telfer, with the support of Tara Brown and Ann-Marie Murray-Ferguson, School of Pharmacy who assisted with production, labeling and packaging. Administrative, product costing and procurement support was provided by Mrs. Stancy Mighty-Dixon, Technical Officer and Miss Carren Brown, Executive Assistant.
Mrs. Harris Kidd explains that the alcohol-based hand sanitizer contains 70% ethyl alcohol, along with glycerine, hydrogen peroxide and purified water and meets the recommended standards of the WHO and CDC, which stipulates use of a sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol in the absence of soap and water.
The Facilities Management Department (FMD) since June 10, 2020 has facilitated the distribution of approximately 52 litres of the hand sanitizers to the University Community. The COHS-produced hand sanitizer has saved the University the cost of purchasing the item at the average retail price.
Mrs. Harris Kidd indicated that COHS will continue to produce the hand sanitizers for use at the University as long as the need exists. She also noted that the production of the next batch will include the large 500 mL spray bottles for use in further sanitation efforts at the University. Moving forward, Mrs. Harris Kidd stated that the BSc. in Pharmaceutical Technology students, whose core training is in the area of product development and manufacturing, will be engaged in the project.
In Production: (from l-r) Mrs. Modupeola Abayomi, Lecturer, Ms. Lisa Scarlett, Lecturer, and Mrs. Stancy Mighty-Dixon, Technical Officer, COHS test product samples while Ms. Chanel Telfer, Technical Staff prepares bottles for packaging.
Mrs. Ann-Marie Ferguson and Ms. Tara Brown assists with bottling and labeling of the finished products.
Dr. Andrea Daly, Head, School of Pharmacy labeling bottles of hand sanitizers at the production lab, College of Health Sciences.
End.
Contact:
Michelle Beckford (Mrs.)
Corporate Communications Manager
University of Technology, Jamaica
Telephone: 876 970-5299 or 876 818-5893
Email: mbeckford@utech.edu.jm