Polish Universities and Institutes Help to Fight the Pandemic
Building and servicing drive-thru points, helping seniors undergoing quarantine, organising plasma donations from convalescents - these are just some of ways universities and institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences have joined the fight against coronavirus.
Institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences and Polish universities are combatting the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers are testing for the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. They also created a prototype of their own test, work that led to the production of the Ventil device, which allows two patients to be connected to one ventilator. Hospitals have received personal protective equipment donated by laboratories of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Universities are also contributing in many ways - from volunteering at hospitals and collection points, sewing masks and constructing medical helmets, to collecting convalescent plasma.
Students help to collect convalescent plasma
Plasma from COVID-19 convalescents helps heal the sick and often saves lives. Polish universities are actively involved in obtaining plasma from those who have recovered.
The Medical University of Lublin has launched a Medical Volunteering Programme: 300 students who are willing to work have already signed up and are getting ready to conduct interviews with potential donors of healing plasma.
Martial Arts Academy Soldiers who have had the COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 infection are also donating plasma.
Swab sampling at drive- and walk-thru points
During a pandemic, we need solutions that enable testing of as many potentially infected individuals as possible. Thanks to drive-thru and walk-thru diagnostic centres, it is possible to perform tests virtually anywhere - also with the help of universities.
Students from the Pomeranian University in Słupsk are involved in helping at the drive-thru tent and taking swabs on campus.
At the University of Gdańsk since May 2020, a WALK-THRU COVID-19 Mobile Test Centre has been operating.
Help for seniors and nursing homes
Fifth-year apprentice students from the Higher Medical School of Podkowa Leśna are supporting nursing homes through partial implementation of internships in these institutions.
Students from the Michał Belina-Czechowski University of Theology and Humanities in Podkowa Leśna are working for the local community in consultation with local authorities and MOPS. One programme related to helping people in need that is also related to COVID 19 involves a food drive from local supermarkets, with students collecting and packing food and delivering it to selected families.
Pope John Paul II State School of Higher Education in Biała Podlaska implements a number of its own initiatives related to the ongoing state of epidemic nationwide. These activities include helping the elderly and those in quarantine.
Research and implementation projects related to counteracting COVID-19
Many universities and institutes are conducting research and implementation projects related to counteracting COVID-19.
The Academy of Art in Szczecin is participating in research and development work to combat the effects of COVID-19. From July to September 2020, the Academy of Arts received funding and implemented two projects.
The Minister of Education and Science announced a grant for the University of Gdańsk in the form of a subsidy worth PLN 4 million to adapt infrastructure for the purpose of establishing a laboratory with an increased level of safety. The laboratory will study the SARS-CoV2 virus.
The Institute of Human Genetics of the Polish Academy of Sciences runs the COVID-19 Diagnostics Laboratory. The task of the laboratory is to support health care units in the fight against the coronavirus. The research workers of the institute perform several hundred tests a day using the real-time RT-PCR method. The laboratory is included on the list of COVID-19 Laboratories kept by the Ministry of Health.
Source: https://www.gov.pl/web/nauka/uczelnie-i-instytuty-pomagaja-walczyc-z-pandemia