The Engineering Alumni Association, Faculty of Engineering supported construction of a temporary forklift for the work of KKU Hospital that is now admitting Covid-19 patients. The temporary lift helps in reducing risks and workload in catering food, drinking water and medical supplies from the 1st to the 4th floor.
Temporary forklift supporting the work of KKU Field Hospital for Covid–19 patients
Ever since April 15, 2021 until now, about 3 months ago, Dormitory 26 of Khon Kaen University is serving as a field hospital to accommodate Covid-19 patients. It is the first field hospital in this regard in Khon Kaen province that is fully equipped with tools, doctors, nurses and health professionals in charge, and meets the standard of the Ministry of Public Health. Besides health care, another important mission is conveying medical supplies and catering food to the patients who are being admitted on each of the 4 floors. This operation is being done several times daily, and because of the weight of the items conveyed, the work of the officers is not at all easy. The Engineering Alumni Association, Faculty of Engineering, seeing the problem, had thus supported an amount of budget for the faculty of Engineering to build a temporary forklift for the field hospital. On July 2, 2021, the lift was officially transferred to KKU field hospital by Mr. Phawat Jansaeng, a representative of the Engineering Alumni Association. On the same day, the temporary forklift started its operation.
Assoc. Prof. Ratchapon Santiwarakorn, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Engineering explained that this support to KKU field hospital for Covid-19 patients began when the faculty learned about the information from the nurses and officers of the field hospital that each day, food, water and necessary medical items are being carried up the building, from the first, second, to the fourth floor. The officers who are in charge of this, feel exhausted every day from the workload. Moreover, there are not enough officers, not to mention the fact that most are women and there are risks in contracting the disease. After being acknowledged of this, the faculty came up with the idea to build a temporary forklift to carry items and food at the field hospital. The Engineering Alumni Association donated an amount of 35,000 baht for this purpose.
Assoc. Prof. Somsak Thiamkao, M.D., Deputy Director of Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, who acts as the Director of the First Field Hospital at Dormitory No. 26 said that the lift is very useful, for it can now carry necessary items, food and water to the patients being admitted on the 2nd to the 4th floors of the hospital. Usually, the nurses carried these items. The work required a lot of labor and the officers also have to protect against infection. Prior to this, the hospital used pulleys for the work. With the forklift given by the Engineering Alumni Association, the operation has been easier. “On behalf of the First Field Hospital of Srinagarind Hospital, I’m really grateful.” In addition, Assoc. Prof. Somsak Thiamkao expressed his concern about the students’ activities. Since the spread of Covid-19 all over the country and in Khon Kaen itself is still severe, the welcoming activities for the new students should be adjusted so that they are informed of the knowledge about Covid-19, how to prevent the contract, how to prevent the spread and how one can volunteer to help the hospital. This can change the crisis into a chance that enables the freshmen to do activities that are useful to the public. After the situation has been improved, the students may organize a new style of activities.
News compiled by: Benjamaporn Mamuk
Photos: Division of Communications / Faculty of Engineer