UIRI awarded sh175m for lifesaving machine

Jan 30, 2016

“This award highlights the potential of our indigenous scientists and engineers. They are proving their intellectual capacity at the global level. We are also demonstrating that if you invest in them, they are able to deliver,” Prof Charles Kwesiga, the Executive Director of Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI) told the New Vision.


The Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI) has received global recognition for an innovative design of a low cost electrically controlled gravity infusion machine to safely administer fluids to children five years and below.

The machine will drastically reduce unintended deaths in toddlers by administering fluids by drip in the correct dosage, at the right rate to avoid shocking their fragile hearts to death.

UIRI received the first prize for designing the machine at the 2016 Patient Safety, Science and Technology summit on 22nd January in California ahead of 59 contenders from around the world.

In addition, UIRI has been awarded $50,000 (about sh175m) to fund production of the machine.

The machine will then be used in clinical trials at Mulago hospital and at Intermountain Healthcare, a group of 22 hospitals in the state of Utah, in the United States of America.

Experts at UIRI estimate that validation and certification of the machine will be completed in 2018, after which the machine will be mass produced and used in hospitals and health facilities in Uganda and around the world.  

"This award highlights the potential of our indigenous scientists and engineers. They are proving their intellectual capacity at the global level. We are also demonstrating that if you invest in them, they are able to deliver," Prof Charles Kwesiga, the Executive Director of Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI) told the New Vision.  

Philippa Makobore, the head UIRI's instrumentation unit which developed the machine designs noted that the machine will cost just $100 (sh350,000). This will save Uganda a whopping $2,700 (sh9.5m) per unit if a similar second hand machine where imported.

She explained that the machine can use rechargeable batteries and solar energy unlike most imported electronically controlled gravity feed infusion machines. Makobore explained that a prototype of the machine is currently being tested.

"We will apply for additional funding to the tune of $250,000 (about sh875m) to carry out further validation of the machine. The clinical tests will enable us to get valuable feedback from doctors and make appropriate changes to the machine," Makobore said.

"The offer we have to do clinical trials in the US means that our device can be used even in developed countries. The next step now is to start small scale production of the device locally. We will look at outsourcing bulk production to China," she added.

Makobore explained that UIRI has capacity to produce at least 50 units of the machine every week after the validation exercise is completed using less than 10 staff members.

Dr. Sabrina Kitaka, a Paediatrics Specialist at Mulago hospital was excited at the development and noted that many dehydrated toddlers, especially babies require transfusions and that the machine will ensure that they are not overloaded.

"This is fantastic news. This innovation is very important; for babies, you have to be careful how much fluid you give them otherwise you could shock them," Dr. Kitaka explained. "We only have 6 of these machines in the special care unit for babies at Mulago hospital," she added.   

Shock from administering fluids by drip in larger than required doses affects 10% of children admitted to African hospitals, of whom approximately 11-12% die, often within hours of admission according to information on the Patient Safety Movement Foundation website.

In a statement, Joe Kiani, the founder of the Patient Safety Movement Foundation sated: "We believe innovation is key to attaining zero patient deaths by 2020. We are constantly learning about unique solutions being used around the world that are improving patient safety and this award allows us to both support and share the details of these innovations."

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});