Voluntary Network of 3D Printer Owners Makes Face Shields for Health Workers

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More than two thousand 3D printer owners produce protective face shields to help health workers, who have been having difficulties accessing protective equipment amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The 3 Dimensional Support (3 Boyutu Destek) movement was founded by a group of engineers and has become a country-wide voluntary network producing thousands of face shields.

"We thought about producing face shields with 3D printers but if we produced with our machines, it wouldn't be enough for even one hospital," said İlker Vardarlı, a mechatronics engineer and one of the founders of the movement.

Therefore, Vardarlı and his friends issued a call to create a network of 3D printers owners.

"We said, 'If you have a 3D printer, join our network and we start production together. We'll work for those in need and health workers.' "In three days, there was an incredible demand from almost all of the 81 provinces," he told bianet.

The people were organized by provinces on Telegram and communicated with hospitals, learning hat their most urgent need was face shields. "We set up separate groups in 81 provinces and chose volunteers. Then we began the production of face shields."

Similar movements have also emerged in the world as health workers have shortages of protective equipment in many countries. According to a survey conducted among health workers by the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) in late March, more than percent of medical personnel have difficulties in accessing face shields and N95 respirators.

Health Minister Koca announced last week that 601 health workers in the country were infected from coronavirus.

3D-printed face shields are distributed to hospitals by volunteer motorcyclists, Vardarlı said. In the first week of the production, they managed to deliver 10 thousand face shields, he noted.

More than 2,500 persons and entities throughout the country currently make and distribute shields. (HA/VK)