Mount Kenya University (MKU) Rwanda, on April 22, donated 10,000-litres of hand sanitisers to Kicukiro District in support to the government’s to control the spread of coronavirus.

The donation is part of the university’s as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

According to Prof. Edwin Odhuno, the Vice-Chancellor, the university’s School of Health Sciences has been involved in research on the prevention of the virus, which has led to development of antimicrobial hand sanitiser.

The university, which runs the school of public health, school of nursing and school of medicine has a primary focus on engaging in health and safety of the population.

"At the beginning of the pandemic, Mount Kenya University thought it very wise to see how we can protect ourselves in the institution and also ensure that members of the community also have access to hand sanitisers to help them combat the Covid-19 pandemic,” Odhuno said, "The items have been made by the school of health sciences staff-lecturers and students in the school.”

Prof. Edwin Odhuno.

He said that the hand sanitisers donated to the district is the second major donation after production.

"Initially we produced more than 50,000 litres that we used in the university and we have also been able to donate to other places in Kigali. We have to participate in the general health and well-being of members of the community as our main objective because we have the knowledge to make hand sanitisers to help ourselves and members of the communities,” he noted.

Solange Umutesi, the Executive Administrator for Kicukiro District welcomed the donation saying it is timely support in their fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

"The hand sanitisers will be used in many public places such as schools, markets, shops, bus parks and others,

Combating Covid-19 requires sensitising people but also financial capacity to buy hygiene materials and therefore we need hand sanitisers,” she noted.

She said the district continues to enjoy a healthy partnership with the university in activities that improve people’ welfare including those that contribute to the implementation of district performance contracts.

Covid-19 prevention in the university

The university put in place measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Some of the guidelines employed by MKU Kigali Campus include a tech-based registration method that everyone entering the campus has to use and fills in their details to be used when there is a need for contact tracing of a person who tested positive for Covid-19.

Antimicrobial hand sanitizer development by the Department of Health Sciences in Mount Kenya University Rwanda. / Dan Nsengiyumva

Other protocols include handwashing facilities at the campus’ entrance, a sanitization booth and social distancing in classrooms.

The university has also expanded classrooms and deployed tech tools such as smart TVs to enable streaming for students to follow lectures virtually. This has decongested lecture rooms.

Sanitisers placed in different rooms in this campus are made by the students at the School of Health Sciences.

To make sure all standard operating procedures on Covid-19 are respected, MKU Kigali Campus selected youth volunteers that include students, to be part of the task force to enforce the guidelines.

The campus also set aside a room where anyone who tests positive for Covid-19 is immediately isolated.

There is a trained nurse to provide first aid to the patient, as they await help from health professionals.