BEING the vehicle to improve scientific literacy and technology ability in the country, Tech Dome Penang is all geared up combat the Covid-19 infection among the people.
Aside from postponing events which involve huge gatherings, Tech Dome Penang is working on an educational workshop for students – both primary and secondary.
Tech Dome chief executive officer Dr Khong Yoon Loong said that the science centre initiated the ‘Pahlawan Kesihatan Muda’ workshop under the ‘Program Saintis Muda 2020’ to minimise the risk of Covid-19 infection.
“The ‘Pahlawan Kesihatan Muda’ workshop consists of three courses – a do-it-yourself hand sanitiser course, a soap-making course and a hand-washing course.
“Students will learn how to make their own hand sanitiser. Besides learning how to do make their own sanitiser, they will also study the basic knowledge about viruses and bacteria.
“Our team will also teach the pupils how to make soap. Those who are taking part in the Dino – Soap Maker course will learn about the saponification process in making soap.
“The coronavirus has a lipid surface. Hence, washing hands with soap is effective against the coronavirus. There are other viruses which have different surface.
“It is recommended that we should wash our hands with soap for at least 20 seconds (before washing it off), because the chemicals do not act immediately,” he told Buletin Mutiara today.
Tech Dome Penang education and exhibits manager Sean Lee said that the hand-washing course called ‘Scrub Up!’, teaches children the correct way of washing hands.
Tech Dome Penang senior marketing and communications manager Oun Sui Leng welcomed schools to contact the science centre for more details about the ‘Pahlawan Kesihatan Muda’ workshop.
“It is a two-hour workshop and students are highly encouraged to join,” she said.
She also welcomed interested organisations and companies to be partners for the workshop.
Dr Khong said the workshop could be done in the schools.
On a separate matter, Dr Khong said the science centre was also stepping up its effort to ensure that the safety of its employees and visitors to Tech Dome Penang are well taken care of.
“We understand that presently, it is rather difficult to buy hand sanitisers.
“Most disinfectants sold are alcohol-based sanitisers. Our centre has a machine that can produce hypochlorous acid-based disinfectants. We are using the hypochlorous acid solution as a hand sanitiser and as a disinfecting solution.
“We are able to produce 500ml of hypochlorous acid in just 20 minutes using this machine. We only need water and salt to produce the hypochlorous acid solution,” he said.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) website, the hypochlorous acid solution is known as a disinfectant and as an antiseptic drug.
“The hypochlorous acid is gentler than alcohol yet effective.
“We dilute the final product 10 times if we want to use it to sanitise our hands. We dilute it one time if we want to use it to clean the surface of our equipment,” he said.
Dr Khong said that Tech Dome Penang would be supplying its operation staff with a spray bottle of diluted hypochlorous acid each to minimise the risk of Covid-19 infection.
“The operation staff can use it for themselves and for the visitors of Tech Dome Penang,” he said.
For those who are interested to support the efforts of Tech Dome Penang, e-mail to [email protected] or call Oun at 019-443 5757.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Chan Kok Kuan and courtesy of Tech Dome Penang