Production Of Hand Sanitizer During Covid: An Academic’s Story

• By: WALKER, Roderick (Rhodes University, South Africa)
• Co-author(s): Prof Roderick Walker (Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa)
  
• Abstract:

  Introduction
  In 2020, the globe shut down due to the COVID pandemic. As an academic, University space and other resources were used to convert a teaching facility into a small manufacturing unit to produce hand-sanitizer according to the WHO formula which was supplied to health care and other facilities in the Eastern Cape Province.
  
  Method
  All raw materials were sourced from partners such as the Eastern Cape Department of Health (ECDoH), South African Institute of Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), Rhodes University. All batches were manufactured using a Batch manufacturing record and tested for alcohol content. Initially only 25 L was manufactured at a time until such time as sufficient numbers of containers had been found and calibrated at which point 300 L of sanitizer could be manufactured at any one time. Following testing, the sanitizer was packed into 5 or 25 L recycled containers that had been cleaned. The sanitizer was distributed to hospital, clinical and other sites by the ECDoH and others. The production of sanitizer has now become a component of an Industrial Pharmacy elective course in the Faculty. Several partnerships were established to ensure the sustainably of production during the pandemic. Product was labelled and packed into 5 and 25 L containers that had been cleaned thoroughly before use. The finished product was stored in a laboratory in which the air temperatures was 15⁰C. Compliance certificates from the local fire department was issued for this purpose. Documentation was retained for the purposes of reconciliation of raw material use and he South African Revenue Services.
  
  Results
  To date over 15 000 L of hand sanitizer has been produced in the facility, by and for partners. The first 50 L were manufactured on 20 March 2020 and packed into 1L containers. On 26 March 2020 a batch of 150 L is produced and soon thereafter 300 l batches are produced. At peak production 900 L was made in a day. Three groups of elective students have participated in the production of hand sanitizer and have had to determine who they would donate the sanitizer to. The Dhone Research Institute of the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform brought scientists for training in sanitizer production and made sanitizer at their facilities, under direction, after completion of training.
  
  Conclusion
  The production of hand sanitizer in a time of need, ensure that front-line workers in the public sector had access to suitable product has been achieved. The inclusion of hand sanitizer production in an elective course for 4th year pharmacy students ensured that they have insight into the requirements for documentation and control in respect of production. The ethical dilemma of who should receive hand-sanitizer form part of their learning. Retrospectively, what has been achieved in a short space of time with limited resources reveals that with courage and conviction pharmacists and pharmacy can make a difference in health care due to their education and training and academic pharmacy forms part of that continuum.