We will continue to inform about new activities...

07/2023 (100 % completed)– During this month, the final reports and the project documentation were finalized. Project activities were gradually finished. Only the review processes of three written scientific studies in scientifical journals are under evaluation by PEER reviewers.

06/2023 (98 % completed)– Along with the doctors from Nairobi, our team completed the observation and supervision during the implementation of the device on patients in need and returned to Slovakia, while the cooperation will continue dynamically in order to help patients with respiratory and other diseases as much as possible in the affected locations. In the Kalach area, long-term cooperation and the dispatch of Slovak team members in 2024 were agreed. A new electric generator was also delivered.

03/2023 - 5/2023 (92 % completed)– A monitoring journey in Kenya and implementation in district hospitals. The device was implemented directly in Kenya in cooperation with the Kenyan team and a team of Slovak scientists and doctors. In the first phase, half of the Slovak team arrived in Kenya, where the established technologies were taught to local communities in the northern desert areas. The personnel of the health facilities were trained, the devices were handed over and the assistance to the patients began. Professional portable EKG machines, other medical equipment and devices were handed over to local health authorities. The equipment was received by health authorities in Kalacha, Nort Horr, Marsabit as well as by the field health team in Nairobi.

02/2023 (76 % completed) – During the month of February, the necessary documents for the monitoring journey were finalised. Data from the previous research part were also evaluated. More information will be updated soon.

01/2023 (71 % completed) – A preclinical study and documentation necessary for the implementation of the device in Kenya began to be prepared. The scientific study was conducted primarily by the Kenyan team. Sub-chapters of individual publications have been written, the final version of the manual on online learning guideline has been completed.

12/2022 (66 % completed) – The scientific part of the work focused on the ecological side of the project in Kenya. Strong and natural decompositions of the materials used, were detected. We found that fan decomposition in nature and humid environments occurs significantly faster than expected. After degradation, traces of microplastics were not found.

11/2022 (61 % completed) – During the month, an international university fair was held in Brno (Czech Republic), at which the device was presented to more than 4000 people for 3 days. Scientific work took place mainly by collecting data from individual modules of the device connected to the patient. Ecological analyses of the new instrumentation elements were also carried out. Since this is the scientific part of the project activities, the results of this part will be available in upcoming scientific publications.

10/2022 (56 % completed) – Scientific work took place mainly by collecting data from individual modules of the device. Since this is the scientific part of the project activities, the results of this part will be available in upcoming scientific publications. Several team video conferences were organized during the month.

09/2022 (51 % completed) – During this phase, we began to focus more broadly on scientific studies. In cooperation with the Kenyan side of the team, error protocols and modified instrument safety limits were created. Extended battery life by 20 %.

08/2022 (46 % completed) – During the end of August, a joint project team meeting was organised in Zürich (Switzerland) with the participation of Kenyan colleagues. At the meeting, future projects of the startup TATRASKY were discussed, which arose from the ideas of Kenyan volunteers. British doctors and Swiss colleagues from ETH Zürich also attended the meeting. The online transmission was freely available at: www.TATRASKY.com/live/.

07/2022 (46 % in progress) – Comenius University in cooperation with the start-up TATRASKY and the University of Nairobi started the implementation of the Q-VENT mini 3. The implementation phase involves transportation of ventilator modules to the Kenyan hinterland. The Kenyan expert team in Nairobi is proposing a strategy for the implementation and integration of ventilators in a few local hospitals. Hospitals have been selected and framework agreements are being formulated. The frequency of videoconferencing between the expert team at the University of Nairobi and the project team in Bratislava has increased.

06/2022 ( 39 % completed) – At the beginning of the month, the Slovak team was invited to London (United Kingdom) to present the project and its activities. During this activity, the ventilation project was presented in several professional lectures. The result is cooperation on scientific study, implementation, and certification of the Q-vent in cooperation with a British partner. The purpose of the activity is to improve the long-term sustainability of the project. Work has begun on a detailed guide describing the various respiratory problems and their possible solutions occurring in East Africa. The guide will be donated in book form to local hospitals in Kenya.

05/2022 (34 % completed) – Teaching the community in the field of production of everyday gadgets using 3D printing. Several students from the local-community were selected as project participants according to the cross-cutting themes "ecology" and "gender equality". The result is a Kenyan team cooperating with the start-up TATRASKY in the theme of 3D printing for health care.

04/2022 (30 % completed) – The premises of the implementation laboratory of the Q-vent project in the Slovak hinterland have been prepared. The FURKABREATH platform is being built as a framework start-up. Testing of modern instrumentation of platform was carried out. The launch of public access for students and interested parties within Bratislava is planned for the 9-10/2022 breakthrough, due to reconstruction works.

03/2022 (26 % completed) –
Preparation of materials for familiarization of the indigenous community with the:
Planning the transfer of certain project-related activities to the Kenyan startup TATRASKY and setting goals for the second third of the project.
  
02/2022 (21 % completed) – Initiation of quantitative manufacture of the ventilator.
The Kenya-Slovak team launch of a methodological manufacture of the device using globally available raw materials, to allow for facile construction of the device upon the procurement of the instruction manual.
The result is a clear guide in the form of a scientific study, which can be assumed by virtually anyone in compliance with the license terms

01/2022 (17 % completed) – Optimization and validation of Q-vent mini beta version into the final form of Q-vent mini+.The optimized model overcomes issues with energy efficiency, weight and need of an external PC for its operation. This simplifies the management and utilization of the device.
Selection of diseases for which the device can be utilized.
Implementation of new materials.

12/2021 (13 % completed) – Successful creation of the Q-vent mini ventilator (beta version). The beta version is based on the initial concept of the Q-vent mini, eliminating numerous problems found throughout the trials. The new version was created at the Comenius University in Bratislava in cooperation with and according to the remarks of experts from the University of Nairobi.

11/2021 (8.6 % completed) – Development of TATRASKY startup and its general intertwinement and involvement with the project. The startup demonstrates potential for long term development of projects related to increasing the quality and level of public health.
Introduction of measures for basic implementation of the vital themes of climate protection and reduced inequality of opportunities.
Occurance of planned audition for the Administrative and PR Assistant of the project (November 15, 2022). The primary function of this position was defined as increasing the project’s prominence and documenting it.
The components produced via technologies provided by the SAMRS/2021/KE/1/5 project were manufactured according to the standards and recommendations of the CE and FCC.

10/2021 (4.3 % completed) – Development of a new type of filters based on 3D printed ceramics (by Marián Janek’s team from STU). These filters reduced the energy consumption of Q-vent, associated with the UV light radiated and high temperatures required by the initial version of the filters.
Beginning of development and manufacture of ventilator components.
Setup of the Kenyan project base in the form of TATRASKY startup and the Slovak project base at the Comenius University - Faculty of Natural Sciences.

09/2021 (Project initiation) – Initiation of cooperation between the Comenius University in Bratislava and the University of Nairobi with support of the Slovak Agency for International Development Cooperation (Slovak AID) through the SAMRS/2021/KE/1/5 project.
Determination of coordination steps and administrative project requirements.
Division of responsibilities and competencies across expert members of the team, staff and volunteers.
Setting goals for the first third of the project-related activities scheduled for completion in April 2022.