COVID-19 Awareness-Launch of Hand Sanitizer prepared by the Dept of Chemistry & Biochemistry.

The departments of Chemistry and Bio-Chemistry have stepped in to help combat the hand sanitizer shortage by using the in-house alcohol and other chemicals and giving it out for free to all the employees and students of the institution in view of the recent outbreak of corona virus.
In a short program held on 21.03.2020 at 09.00AM in the college premises to create awareness about the covid-19(corona virus) among the employees and students and also based on the recent advisory of University Grants Commission, hand sanitizer was distributed to the staff and students.

In his briefing, Dr.Ravi J.D.Saldanha, HOD of Chemistry said that due to the recent reports of the outrage and low supply of sanitizers, it is decided to provide hand-sanitizers which are prepared in the laboratory free of charge to the students and staff in the campus from 21st onwards. Also surging numbers of novel corona virus cases across the country there has been a rush on hand sanitizers in stores and hence there is a dire need of some sort of a precautionary measure to be taken  he said.

Rev.Dr.Bernard Prakash Barnis, Rector of the institution gave initiation to this move by distributing the hand sanitizer to all who were present. He lauded the efforts undertaken by the Chemistry and Bio-Chemistry departments to create awareness among the staff and students. Rev.Fr.Maria Xavier Sunil, Vice-Rector; Rev.Fr.Thomas Roxan Baros, Campus Administrator; Dr.T. Ruth Shantha Kumari, Principal of the college; Prof.Vidyadhar Sanjay Nair, Vice-Principal; Dr.Alphonsus D’Souza, Controller of Examinations; Prof.Agnes Sylvia D’Souza, Academic coordinator; Mr.Sunil D’Souza, Principal of P.U.College were present during the occasion.

The faculty of Chemistry and Bio-Chemistry developed this sanitizing solution by mixing about 70% ethanol and distilled water along with a chemical substance.