PUCRS delivers face shield #10,000

Materials have been produced since March at Tecnopuc Fablab in partnership with Tecnopuc and other organizations

Since March, with the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic in Brazil, PUCRS, through the PUCRS’ Science and Technology Park – Tecnopuc, began a movement to produce and donate face shields for health and social assistance professionals and institutions dedicated to fighting Covid-19. Tenocpuc is developing a series of partnerships for that. The actions include the donation of face shields, materials and 3D printers, as well as its own production in the Park. Materials are produced at Tecnopuc Fablab, Tecnopuc’s laboratory managed by the Center for Scientific and Technological Development of PUCRS (Ideia). All face shields are handed in person by the Institutional Relations Advisor of the President’s Office of PUCRS, Solimar Amaro. The actions involving São Lucas Hospital are carried out jointly with HSL’s Fundraising and Project Manager, Izadora Silveira. This week, the institution reached the mark of 10,000 face shields delivered. The initiative includes partners such as Unimed, Projeto GRU, Taurus, Still, Grendene, Senge, Braskem, Laerdal Medical, BIA and IBASE. 

The President of PUCRS, Dr. Evilázio Teixeira adds: “We are going through such an unprecedented time in human history. It seems to me that a common experience is one that we think we have all the answers for, but then life comes and changes all the questions. Reason for joy is the relevant contribution to minimize the risks and prioritize the health with the production of face shields. As of now, PUCRS has reached the mark of 10,000 pieces donated. I would like to thank Tecnopuc for the dedication of each of its employees, and the partner companies that have made a significant contribution towards the health of people”. 

Face shield #10,000 delivered  

The 10,000th face shield was delivered by Colégio Marista São Francisco to Santa Casa de Rio Grande, in the south of the state. Manuir José Mentges, Vice President for Undergraduate Studies and Continuing Education of PUCRS (PROGRAD), connected Tecnopuc and the school. The way he sees it, the current moment requires us to work together and implement innovative actions, integrating teaching, research and extension. “In this sense, the integrated actions involving the Marist Network spaces strengthened the bond and our contribution to society through education. We mobilized our community service structures as well as primary and secondary schools, University, São Lucas Hospital, BraIns, Tecnopuc and others, so that together we can face this challenging moment ”, the Vice President says. 

The principal of Colégio Marista São Francisco, Br. Jader Luiz Henz, sees that fellowship has been a value of the Marist institution since the very beginning. “We find, in Marist history books, reports by Rev. Champagnat and the first brothers who gave up the little they had to donate to those who needed the most. Today, more than ever, by having a more sensitive look at situations that require our help, Colégio Marista São Francisco, in partnership with the Associação de Pais e Mestres and PUCRS, made this donation to the Associação de Caridade Santa Casa do Rio Grande. It is a simple way to give back to the great job done by health care professionals in fighting this pandemic ”, Br. Jader adds. 

The way the Superintendent of Innovation and Development at PUCRS, Dr. Jorge Audy, sees it, this Tecnopuc action is one of the University’s efforts to mitigate the effects of the pandemic in Rio Grande do Sul. These efforts include social entities and actions, geriatric clinics and hospitals. “We are sure that these first 10,000 face shields have helped many institutions to protect their health and social care professionals, their patients, students and researchers. It is also of great help to our São Lucas Hospital, BraIns, PUCRS faculty, researchers and managers as well as our Supporter’s community service professionals. In this journey, since March, we have had an increasing number of partners who have joined us in this effort. Companies such as Unimed, GRU Project, Taurus, Stihl and Grendene have provided materials, facial protectors and 3D printers for our actions. The new 3D printers, donated in partnership with Unimed, will be used after the pandemic in the new Tecnopuc Fablab. It will be installed at Living 360º in conjunction with the Office of the Vice President for Undergraduate and Continuing Education (Prograd), the Office of the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies (Propesq) and the Ideia, to be used by our undergraduate students ”, Audy adds.  

Donation to recycling sheds 

PUCRS has partnered with the GRU Project, Taurus and Stihl to assist in the actions of the Marist Brothers in recycling sheds. As a consequence, earlier this week, new face shield have been donated. The coordinator of the Cen​tro Social Marista Irmão Antônio Bortolini and Deputy Principal of Escola de Educação Infantil Marista Menino Jesus, Miguel Orlandi, received the donations. According to him, this has been very helpful for the protection of health of the Rede de Recicladores e Recicladoras da Região Metropolitana (Network of Recyclers in the Greater Metropolitan Area). 

Br. Miguel adds: “Dozens of recyclers are now protected and working within safety standards. Before, they lacked the equipment, especially because the prices were high. With new times, we have found new forms to express fellowship, and the donation of these protectors is one of them. All screening units in Porto Alegre are grateful for the donation. This protects a social group that is extremely vulnerable and is often overlooked in social actions. Fellowship brought together the University, Tecnopuc and these professionals, who will be able to continue caring for the planet”. 

Tecnopuc labs now open: how to participate? 

The initiative is part of a movement of Tecnopuc to open its laboratories (Tecnopuc Fablab, Tecnopuc Crialab and Tecnopuc Usalab) for innovative solutions to fight the pandemic. The proposals received are evaluated by a technical team that studies the ideas and engages the labs, involving Tecnopuc and Ideia, which is linked to the Office of the Vice President for Research, and Graduate Studies. 

Tecnopuc’ Executive and Coordinator of the action, Flávia Fiorin, points out that so far more than 100 institutions have been served. “There are requests for more than 23,000 face shields. 10,000 of which, including those produced at Tecnopuc Fablab’s and those involving the partnership between GRU, Taurus and Sthil Project, have been donated”, Flávia says. 

Ideia’s coordinator, Eduardo Giugliani, says that the face shield task force has been in operation for four and a half months since the beginning of the pandemic. “The moment gave us the chance to get to know people better. An absolutely important network of collaborators was formed. And this is the best result: people’s ability to adapt and quickly revisit themselves according to the context. Up until the first half of March, everything was uncertain and unexpected. And the fact of having collaborators working overtime, on weekends, demonstrates the human being’s ability to offer a contribution for the common good. We can’t measure that. It is the great result of this atypical period that we live in ”, Giugliani adds. 

History of donations  

PUCRS Institutional Relations, Solimar Amaro, played a very decisive role in delivering face shields. The materials have been donated since March. He is very happy about the experience: “Handing face shields to countless institutions was an opportunity to witness the gratitude of those outstanding professionals. Nursing Homes, Hospitals and UPAS, Social Center, Recycling Sheds, police officers, IGP and IML. We hand out the face shield ourselves. PUCRS was very careful in having its employees deliver these items in person. Our Tecnopuc and partners were tireless, even on weekends and holidays, as the production of these shields was uninterrupted. It is gratifying to have participated in an action that served to protect people’s health. That is what out institution is here for: to serve”, Solimar emphasizes. 

HSL’s Fundraising and Project Manager, Izadora Silveira, adds that fellowship has been one of the most important actions in tackling the new coronavirus pandemic. “These are moments of difficulty that brings us together towards a common goal. And gestures like these of people engaged in doing good, with noble attitudes, which must be recognized by all. That’s why we must be thankful each day”, Izadora says.