Fort Pichaidaphak Hospital won the first prize of COVID BOX innovation in solving the COVID-19 epidemic problems

From the COVID-19 pandemic situation since December 2019, the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) and the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) have planned to determine measures to control the pandemic. The Commander In Chief, Royal Thai Army, has ordered all units to use the best of their capabilities to support and solve the COVID-19 pandemic by using the DMHTT and reducing the impacts on the people. In this regard, the Pathology Department and Medical Platoon of Fort Phichaidaphak Hospital, 35th Military Circle have invented and developed the "COVID BOX" or Positive Pressure Swab Test Station to collect secretions from patients and support medical assistance to hospitals in Uttaradit province in the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID BOX was made from an unused public telephone booth of TOT Public Company Limited, Uttaradit by making slots for inserting hands, putting a fan for positive pressure, putting a HEPA-Filter for preventing the spread of aerosol towards the inspector, and setting up a light to reduce the risk of secretions contact for the medical personnel. It can help to reduce the use of PPE suits. On November 16, 2021, Fort Phichaidaphak Hospital, the 35th Military Circle, won the first prize of COVID BOX innovation in the 49th Phra Mongkutklao Academic Conference 2021 on the topic of Healthcare Security and Protection. The COVID BOX innovation has been in use for two years in collecting more than 10,235 specimens, and it brought great benefits to society. Lieutenant General Apichet Suesat, Commander of the 3rd Army Area/ 3rd Army Area Disaster Relief Center, commanded the units in the northern areas to prepare personnel, equipment, and buildings in the 3rd Army Area to support and solve the problem of the COVID-19 pandemic once getting an urgent request or coordinate from the Disease Control Committee. Moreover, they have to take care of people getting through the COVID-19 crisis safely and bring the Thai society back to be strong and move the country forward in the future.

คณะบรรณาธิการข่าว กองทัพภาคที่ 32 ธันวาคม 2564