The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), on Wednesday, May 27, unveiled two locally fabricated Emergency ventilators to provide indigenous solutions to tackle the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, Director of Public Relations and Information Nigeria Air Force, on Wednesday, May 27, 2020.

The ventilators, according to the NAF, were created with combined efforts of a Team of Researchers from the Air Force Research and Development Centre (AFDC) and Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) Kaduna, in partnership with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria. 

The emergency ventilators tagged ‘NAF E-Vents’, were unveiled by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar who was represented by the NAF Chief of Standards and Evaluation (COSE), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Remigius Ekeh, in Kaduna. 

According to the NAF, the prototype E-Vents had been subjected to successful animal testing using both canine and porcine test subjects. The objective of animal testing was to demonstrate the capacity of the Ventilators to support the recovery of patients with respiratory diseases, including Acute Lung Injury and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. 

“Having seen the progress made, it became necessary for the prototypes to undergo animal testing to ascertain their capacity for use on patients with respiratory illness."

“The tests were also necessary to validate the effectiveness of the ‘Assist Ventilation Mode’, where the ventilator detects a breath from a patient being treated and synchronizes the equipment with the patient's breathing.

"The NAF E-Vents, which are intended for use when conventional invasive respiratory support resources have been exhausted, were found to deliver very satisfactory performance in air volume control and assist control modes and are now ready for human testing and further certification by relevant agencies.”

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Ekeh stated that the devastating effects of the COVID-19 require that ingenious and proactive steps be taken to protect lives and avert any form of national tragedy. 

He noted that the NAF had continued to vigorously pursue a robust and result-oriented Research and Development (R&D) policy with an emphasis on the provision of indigenous technological solutions, adding that the NAF had engaged in strategic partnerships with some Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to reduce dependence on other nations. 

Present at the unveiling ceremony were the representative of the Vice-Chancellor ABU, the Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University, Professor Jacob Kwaga; the Commandant AFIT, AVM Abdulganiyu Olabisi, as well as Commanders of co-located NAF Units in Kaduna and other senior officials from ABU Zaria.