Dodoma student develops smart IV drip to address healthcare worker shortages

Dar es Salaam.  A student at Dodoma Vocational Education and Training Authority (Veta) has invented a next-generation intravenous (IV) drip that addresses a critical challenge in Tanzania's healthcare system: a shortage of medical staff.

The gadget for the continuous and slow entry of fluid into a vein of the body is an innovation resulting from scientific and technological advancements, simplifying things.

The exercise requires strong attention, especially from inpatients, who could be attended by a small number of health practitioners walking from one place to another.

Speaking to The Citizen during the 48th edition of the Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF) exhibitions taking place at the Sabasaba Grounds along the Kilwa Roads here, the student, Mr Godwin Justine, innovated an electronic drip.

Demonstrating how it works, he said the medical equipment is fitted with a sensor and connected to a special system capable of sending text messages and making voice calls whenever it is about to run out.

Mr Justine said the purpose of the innovation was to technologically address the shortage of healthcare workers the country was grappling with.

“I came up with this idea following the shortage of healthcare workers facing the country,” he said.

He said health centres, with the said innovation, will find it easy for professionals to follow up by receiving text messages or voice calls, therefore providing immediate and required service to patients.

"This will ultimately improve the provision of health services to patients. Healthcare workers will also be enabled to attend to multiple patients within a limited period,” he said.

Substantiating, Mr Justine said a special device is placed in the fluid and then connected to a system capable of generating automatic text messages or voice calls.

"Once the fluid has been consumed by 95 percent, automatic messages are generated to healthcare workers on duty indicating that the said patient needs to be attended to,” he said.

“Once the consumed amount reaches 97 percent of the total fluid, an automatic voice call is generated. It will continue to raise an alarm, signifying that strong attention is required. It will only stop after being switched off,” added Mr Justine.

Mr Justine said if text messages or voice calls haven’t made successful alerts, then special lights will blink the whole room to send the last message that immediate care is required.

He said that the invention has been tested in one healthcare centre in Dodoma, noting that it provided positive results.

Visiting the pavilion, Ms Nancy Mpauka said the innovation will significantly transform the provision of healthcare services in the country.

"There are times when drips run out without the knowledge of the patient or healthcare service provider, which is dangerous, especially to unconscious patients who are unable to call the service provider,” he said.