Launched on Tuesday, May 19 at the Kanyinya COVID-19 Treatment Centre by the Ministry of Health with support from the United Nations Development Programme, the five high-tech robots can perform a number of tasks related to COVID-19 management, including mass temperature screening, delivering food and medication to patients, capturing data, detecting people who are not wearing masks, among others.
Dr Ngamije speaks to media after the launch of the use of robots at Kanyinya COVID-19 Treatment Centre on Tuesday, May 19.
Speaking to media, Dr Daniel Ngamije the Minister of Health said that the idea of using the robots is aimed at reducing exposure of health workers to possible Covid-19 infection,
"Medics and other front-liners visit patients' room many times to deliver medication, meals, carry out tests, among other things - and this may pose a risk of contracting the virus," he said.
Concerning their use, Dr Ngamije said that robotics engineers will be training the Ministry of Health staff concerning the use of the robots for about one month, after which it is expected that the ministry's officials will be able to operate them.
"There are various innovative solutions being applied to combat COVID-19, and the robots delivered today in these treatment centres, will be deployed to support our frontline health workers in treating and containing the pandemic by taking on routine tasks."
