Bangkok--20 Nov--Ogilvy Public Relations
SCG Chemicals, expert in innovative plastic for the medical equipment and design of medical equipment for a better society, joined hand with TU Asthma Patient Club, Thammasat University Hospital in organizing DIY Spacer for Asthma Patients by SCG Chemicals Project. The project aims to introduce the new design of DIY spacer made from easy-to-find, low cost plastic material, making the device accessible to more asthma patients while giving them a better quality of life. The project encompasses the company’s employees and the general public to join DIY spacer making activity with aim to produce 5,000 units of DIY spacers for for TU Asthma Patient Club, Thammasat University Hospital as well as share the knowhow to the wider group of audience.
Cholanat Yanaranop, President, SCG Chemicals Co., Ltd., said that “as an expert in innovative plastic for the medical equipment and design of medical equipment for a better society, we joined hands with TU Asthma Patient Club, Thammasat University Hospital in developing DIY spacer. We found room for improvement on the device we developed last year by making it easier and take less time to produce. Therefore we help develop the new design of DIY spacer while still retains its original easy-to-make concept. The medication unit of new spacer is made of plastic cup and cover which are easy to find materials. Mesh is used instead of nylon thread to block dirt particle from entering the respiratory system. These make the device easier and faster to assemble. The new design of DIY spacer has been registered for petty patent jointly owned by SCG Chemicals and Thammasat University to prevent commercial exploitation and bring maximum benefit to the public.”
The DIY Spacer for Asthma Patients Project by SCG Chemicals started from our over 2,000 employees who volunteered to learn how to make the DIY spacer and produced 5,000 units of device. Today’s activity is to introduce the DIY spacer and how the make it to the public as well as hand the finished DIY spacers to the Asthma Patient Club, Thammasat University Hospital to be distributed to patients in need across the country. We would like to extend our gratitude to everyone who join us today. We will continue to share the knowhow of DIY spacer to the wider group of audience and plan to host the project in the eastern region starting at Rayong in 2015. SCG Chemicals believes that giving away knowledge is infinite sharing. Those who learn will become self-reliant and then transfer the knowledge to others so the knowledge sharing continues infinitely, which aligns with our Sustainable CSR policy,” added Cholanat.
According to Associate Professor Orapan Poachanukoon, President of TU Asthma Patient Club, Thammasat University Hospital, “Currently there are over 4 million Thai people suffering from Asthma which causes difficulty breathing. The patient needs inhaler to propel the medicine directly to the lungs. But, the medicine only works if the device is used in the proper way. It is important to inhale while pressing down on the inhaler canister and then hold the breath for 10 seconds. Some patients, especially young children and the elderly, are unable to do this so most medicine cannot past their mouth and throat and only little get deep into their lungs. Spacer is essential device to help them inhale the medicine. Most commercially available asthma spacers are too expensive for the lower income population. We would like to thank SCG Chemicals for the close collaboration in developing the new design of DIY spacer to be easier to make. The sharing of this knowhow to the general public will make the spacer more accessible to more and more asthma patients. We are also thankful for everyone who join us in the activity today. We will further bring the finished DIY spacer to those in need.”
For more information about DIY spacer, visit SCG Chemicals website: www.scgchemicals.co.th or tel. 02-586-5076 or visit the website of TU Asthma Patient Club, Thammasat University Hospital at www.tuasthmaclub.com or tel. 02-926-9972-3