KSCJ’s fight against COVID-19: How it started
Kohima Science College (Autonomous), Jotsoma team has come up with the novel idea to develop hand sanitisers few days back and in this period, till today, produced about 150 litres of hand sanitisers in their laboratory.
Vishü Rita Krocha
Kohima | March 18
Considered as the Holy Grail of portable hygiene even on ordinary days, the demand for hand sanitizer has surged multi-fold since the global Coronavirus outbreak. Nagaland is no exception with hand sanitizer and mask becoming two of the most sought-after products in the market. At a time when these products are getting harder to get, Kohima Science College (Autonomous), Jotsoma (KSCJ) has come up with the novel idea to develop hand sanitisers few days back and in this period, till today, produced about 150 litres of hand sanitisers in their laboratory.
This brilliant idea sparked when the state government recently issued an order for mandatory use of hand sanitizer especially in places where biometrics is functioned. It was at this point of time when hand sanitisers became scarce in the market that Dr Tiakaba Jamir, an Assistant Professor of the college in the Department of Chemistry first prepared hand sanitisers from the laboratory initially for college use.
Very impressed with the ingenuity, the Principal of KSCJ, Dr Lily Sema then thought, “why not make some and give it to the offices around us” starting with DDK and RCEMPA, who were also the first recipients of the hand sanitisers.
Demands for it soon poured in from many corners and during a meeting, the college decided that they should come together and make more hand sanitisers especially for hospitals, different centres and for those in need so that the public can make use of it and protect themselves. Impressing upon that this is just a small way in which they are doing something for the community while emphasizing that “our main initiative is just to give back to the society, in a small way, we just wanted to give out,” Dr Sema said all the departments of the college are chipping in, led by the Chemistry Department.
With all education institutions instructed to remain closed since March 17 in view of the outbreak of COVID-19, most students have gone home. However what started with the Chemistry Department of the college involving just a couple of students now has around 15 students from the M Sc 4th Semester in the production of the hand sanitisers, who are also learning and skilling themselves.
Observing that hospitals need it the most, the college had just recently provided the Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) with 15 litres of hand sanitizer. “They need more so we want to make more and give them because they will be treating the patients, with or without the disease (Coronavirus). In addition, AIR has also been given the hand sanitizer. “We are also planning to give to offices like DC’s Office, Secretariat, Directorate, Police Headquarter, and schools”, Dr Sema added. However, she expressed that it is getting difficult to get Isopropyl Alcohol, one of the main ingredients for the sanitizer. “If we run out of that, it will be difficult but hopefully we’ll get”, she put across.
The hand sanitisers produced at KSCJ is as per World Health Organisation’s specification and if carefully monitored, one can also prepare them at home.
DIY: Recipe for 100 ML Hand Sanitizer
Ingredients you need:
• Isopropyl alcohol 99% or ethanol • Glycerol • Hydrogen peroxide 30% • Aloe Vera Gel
Directions:
• Take 76 ml of Isopropyl and put it in a beaker
• Add about 4.1 ml prepared H2O2, 1.5 ml glycerin/glycerol, 2 ml of extracted Aloe Vera Gel and 18 ml of distilled water
• Mix it thoroughly and keep it for a few hours
(Aloe Vera Gel can be extracted from the plant with which, make a solution with distilled water. Dissolve and filter it)
