From HBI to SOS

When COVID-19 surfaced in early 2020,  Metro North Health rose to the challenge of helping healthcare professionals across Queensland sourcing PPE. A team comprising of clinicians, engineers, designers, manufacturers, health regulators, administrators and academics harnessed the power of digital modelling and 3D printing to boost the supply chain of face shields.

Herston Biofabrication Institute coordinated a successful community crowdsourcing campaign, which led to over 18,000 3D printed face shields being received. The face shields met stringent safety and efficacy evaluation and quality assurance testing and are registered as a Class 1 Medical Device on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods.

Half of the crowdsourced face shields were distributed across Queensland, and in July 2021 the remaining devices were donated to Save Our Supplies. SOS will transport the face shields to Papua New Guinea. The brightly coloured face shield will provide the health professionals of Papua New Guinea with a level of clean and relevant medical equipment they can use to help care for their community, and support their health care standards.

HBI sends thanks to everyone involved in this initiative for making a difference with PPE supplies to assist frontline staff.

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