08 May 2020

Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) has donated 4 000 liquid soaps and 1 700 bar soaps to Serowe community to aid in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Handing over the donations in Serowe on Thursday, May 7 Vice Chancellor for BIUST Professor Otlogetswe Totolo said that the university aimed to stimulate research, innovation and technology transfer. BIUST also aims to live up to society’s aspirations to improve health, wealth and well-being among others.

He said in responding to COVID-19 pandemic BIUST joined hands with the government to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 by undertaking projects such as the production of bar and liquid soaps, production of sanitisers, development of drone sprayers and development of dashboard for visualisation of COVID-19 cases.

The products, Prof. Totolo said, were produced at BIUST laboratories and were the inventions of the university students and the academic staff.

The vice chancellor said post COVID-19, the university would be active towards economic diversification through research and innovation.

Therefore, he said their efforts in mass production would go a long way in helping mitigate the spread of COVID- 19 and positioning the products as prospective economic drivers post the pandemic.

Prof. Totolo said among projects that BIUST endeavored to pursue post COVID-19 pandemic were the production of sodium hypochlorite, bitumen, caustic soda, chlorine and other various waste energy projects.

He thanked other partners such as Morupule Coal Mine, Botswana Defence Force and the Local Enterprise Authority for their generous contributions in assisting the university to manufacture the products.

Central District Council (CDC) deputy council secretary, Mr Robert Letlole acknowledged the donation and encouraged the university to continue being innovative.

CDC district commissioner, Mr Rapetse Mathumo said the soaps would protect staff and customers who visited their offices for services. He thanked BIUST for coming up with such creative solutions to support the community. ENDS