In May 2016, a Design Studio was launched at the Polytechnic (now MUBAS), providing a creative space for young, enterprising minds in the technical field to unleash their design talents and craft a variety of technical devices. This studio was made possible through funding from the Lemelson Foundation, in partnership with Rice 360, an institute for Global Health Innovations. The Lemelson Foundation, founded in the 1990s by Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson, was established to harness technical innovations as a catalyst for economic growth in the United States.
In February 2017, I brought Felix Kambwiri, the ingenious man from Dowa who had built a helicopter, to Blantyre to provide him with some technical guidance on his project. I gathered a group of tech-savvy young men to assist in mentoring him. Some of them suggested that he be introduced to the Design Studio at the Polytechnic. Arrangements were promptly made to take him there.
At that time, over four teams of students were actively engaged in technical projects, ranging from mini aircraft assembly and quad-copter construction to the recycling of zeolite (an oxygen-producing chemical), software development, and the creation of innovative irrigation machinery.
Fast forward to 2020, amid the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Design Studio remained a hub of innovation. Driven by their enthusiasm, young minds tackled technical projects aimed at managing the crisis. One team, for instance, focused on developing a low-cost ventilator, ingeniously repurposing parts from CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machines and expired oxygen concentrators, among other resources.
The ventilator was equipped with control buttons to regulate crucial parameters like air pressure and the air mixture ratio. Two clear pipes, serving as the inlet and outlet, were connected to a balloon that inflated and deflated in a continuous cycle when the machine was activated. This ventilator was designed to assist patients who were physically unable to breathe on their own, as was often the case with severe COVID-19 patients, by moving breathable air in and out of their lungs.
This locally made, medical-grade, ventilator brought hope to local health personnel during the fight against coronavirus, especially amid a global shortage of ventilators. Unfortunately, I haven’t followed up on whether this ventilator design was further developed for commercial production.
What is known with some degree of certainty is that a gadget that was also designed by young Engineering students, with the help of Engineering lecturers, in the same studio, went on to get commercially developed and distributed to health centres around the world. It was Christened Pumani. Pumani is the Chichewa word for “breathe” when it is used as an instruction.
Pumani is a blended CPAP device designed to treat respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in premature neonates and respiratory illnesses in young children. Neonates are newborn babies, typically less than four weeks old, although the term can also apply to infants of other mammals. Respiratory issues are common among premature infants, making such devices crucial for their care.
Pumani equipment is implemented by a consortium of organisations, namely Rice 360°, the Malawi Ministry of Health, Medins Sans Frontieres and Save the Children. It is produced and distributed by Hadleigh Health Technologies, a subsidiary of 3rd Stone Design Inc. Hadleigh Health Technologies is located in San Rafael, California, USA.
The Bible recounts a fascinating story where Philip, a new disciple of Jesus, tried to introduce his friend Nathanael to Jesus, who hailed from Nazareth. Nathanael responded with skepticism, asking, “What good can come out of Nazareth?” At that time, Nazareth was indeed considered insignificant. Just a short distance away was Zippori, the Roman administrative center for the Galilee Region. Zippori was a thriving commercial and cultural hub, far surpassing Nazareth in importance. In that context, Zippori was the place that truly mattered, not Nazareth.
Malawi might often seem insignificant on the global stage, much like Nazareth during Jesus’s time. Many people around the globe are unaware of Malawi or its location, and those who have heard of it might question, like Nathaniel did, “What good can come out of Malawi?” However, the world should take notice that in recent years, something remarkable has emerged from Malawi: the Pumani breathing equipment. This innovative device represents a significant achievement and a testament to Malawi’s contribution to global health.
It is anticipated that the MUBAS Design Studio will, over time, continue to produce groundbreaking technology that astonishes the world. By nurturing the talents of young innovators, the studio aims to advance both the technological and economic development of Malawi and make a global impact. This progress will help ensure that solutions to our pressing challenges are developed from within, reducing the need to look elsewhere for answers.