Walton to make life-saving ventilators

NEWS DESK 

Local tech giant Walton will start producing essential medical equipment, including ventilators, at its factory from the first week of April.

A ventilator is a mechanical breathing device essential for patients suffering from breathing problems and respiratory illnesses. 

As the novel coronavirus attacks the lungs, a ventilator is an essential to treat patients with severe symptoms. But Bangladesh has a serious shortage of this medical equipment in public and private hospitals to fight the virus.  

Walton Hi-Tech Industries Limited Executive Director Engineer Golam Murshed said that the company is working on producing life-saving medical equipment including ventilators, Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPR), oxygen concentrators, respiratory masks, UV disinfectants, safety goggles, and protective shields.

The research and development team of the company is working on the products. But Walton has not specified the numbers of ventilators that it will produce.

Although almost all the factories and offices of Walton are closed now, more than 50 engineers are working at its headquarters to produce life-saving medical instruments to provide quick treatment to the coronavirus affected. 

The company said that it will start the production of safety goggles and protective shields in the first week of April and after that ventilator and other equipment. 

The company claims to be first in Bangladesh to come forward to produce essential medical equipment like ventilators, PAPRs, and oxygen concentrators.

Walton's Executive Director Uday Hakim said that there is a supply crunch of the life-saving ventilator in the world. "Considering its importance for the treatment of coronavirus pandemic, Walton wants to produce this equipment." 

"Everyone should remember that the ventilator is a high-tech product. So its production would take some time."

"I hope Bangladesh would be self-sufficient in medical equipment like the one it is already in the electronics and technology-based products. The country has a huge potential to export these essential medical equipment too."