The successful improvements comprise a non-invasive Neonatal Ventilator, an Oxygen Supply Blender System, and an Oxygen Splitter System, all powered by photo voltaic vitality.
Hippolite Amadi, a Nigerian and Professor of Medical Engineering and Know-how, has gained a $100,000 prize for rising because the winner of the Nigerian Prize for Science 2023.
Mr Amadi, a visiting professor on the Imperial Faculty London, emerged this yr’s winner of the annual award together with his work on respiratory applied sciences for preserving Nigerian newborns alive.
Successful entry
Asserting the winner of the Nigeria LNG Restricted (NLNG)-sponsored annual award, the Prize’s Advisory Board, led by Barth Nnaji, a professor, mentioned the successful work was primarily based on the theme: “Innovation for Enhancement of Healthcare Remedy”.
The successful improvements comprise a Non-invasive Neonatal Ventilator (NIV), an Oxygen Supply Blender System, and an Oxygen Splitter System, all powered by photo voltaic vitality.
The NIV is taken into account the gold customary within the care of preterm infants with respiratory misery syndrome (RDS).
Mr Nnaji mentioned Mr Amadi’s work has not solely considerably superior neonatal care in Nigeria and comparable international locations, nevertheless it has additionally additional improved entry and lowered the price of neonatal care by inflicting an noticed discount out there costs of the competing and current units.
“The entry showcased three (3) technological improvements geared toward saving the lives of neonates by making the supply of oxygen low-cost and simple. The primary innovation is the non-invasive Neonatal Ventilator, a key invention (The bubble Well mannered CPAP) for steady constructive airway stress (CPAP) air flow of very-low-birth-weight neonates, a possible different to the available improvised bubble CPAP (IBCPAP) in cost-constrained settings.
“The second and third improvements are the Oxygen Supply Blender System, which permits for the protected supply of oxygen with out the hazard of toxicity, and the Oxygen Splitter System, which permits for using a shared supply of oxygen to many neonates at a time, in conditions the place piped oxygen is just not out there. These units are all photo voltaic powered,” he acknowledged.
He acknowledged additional that the units have been tried by practitioners at numerous hospitals throughout Nigeria, including that there are experiences from these hospitals that the innovation, PoliteCPAP, is an enchancment on the prevailing system because it gives entry to ventilators and oxygen supply concurrently to neonates at a particularly decreased price of N750,000 as towards N6.5 million for the prevailing system with comparable and higher effectivity.
Presidency commends innovation
President Bola Tinubu has additionally congratulated the winner and counseled improvements which have decreased neonatal care prices considerably and saved lives in hospitals which have adopted using the solar-powered neonatal ventilator.
The president counseled Mr Amadi for leveraging his intensive background in medical engineering and know-how, with a particular concentrate on inexpensive medical programs, for the betterment, progress, and advantage of Nigerians and humanity basically.
“This important work by this nice Nigerian scientist will contribute to preserving extra Nigerian youngsters alive after start and getting ready them for a greater future as constructive change makers and influencers each at dwelling and overseas,” reads an announcement by the President’s Particular Adviser on Media & Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
About winner
Mr Amadi obtained a bachelor’s diploma in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters of Engineering Know-how and Administration from the Enugu State College of Know-how in 1988 and 1991 respectively.
He additionally obtained a Grasp of Engineering in Drugs on the Imperial Faculty, London in 2002 and a Doctorate in Orthopaedic Biomechanics on the similar establishment in 2006.
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Professor Amadi is at present a visiting professor of Medical Engineering and Know-how on the Imperial Faculty London. Earlier than his work at Imperial Faculty, he was a professor of Medical Know-how at Imo State College.
His profession spans over three many years, slicing throughout engineering in healthcare, orthopaedics, and neonatology analysis. He’s additionally the writer of the e book “Born to Dwell, To not Die.”
His current function at Imperial Faculty London focuses on Frugal Medical Know-how for low- and middle-income international locations. This runs alongside his place because the Principal Guide at Neonatal Considerations for Africa charity organisation.
Qosim Suleiman is a reporter at Premium Occasions in partnership with Report for the World, which matches native newsrooms with proficient rising journalists to report on under-covered points across the globe
