Considering the health emergency in Ecuador and to support the initiative of students and professors, Universidad Politecnica Salesiana (UPS), Universidad Tecnologica Particular de Loja (UTPL) and Pontifica Universidad Catolica de Ecuador (PUCE) have decided to produce face shields for medical staff.

UPS supports this cause through the foundation "Jovenes para un Ecuador mejor" and the community engagement department, together they seek to support the public health system by providing equipment, material and management assistance. 

UPS students, professors and researchers from different undergraduate programs such as biomedicine, biotechnology, mechatronics, mechanics and members of the Coworking StartUPS; as well as, former students, and medical specialists such as Dr. Pablo Peña (Neurosurgeon) and Dr. Mateo Torracchi (Specialist in respiratory diseases), who have broad experience in the clinical application of 3D printing, are all working together on the production of the masks. Well-known companies in the city such as Señal X Cia Ltda. and Pasamanería S.A. (PASA) are also providing materials for the production of masks and contributing to find immediate solutions in favor of health.

Twenty 3D printers are being used for the production of the face shields and eye protectors; so far, more than 300 face shields have been donated to the Ministry of Health, the Fire Department, the Red Cross and the Ecuadorian Social Security Institute. The plan is to deliver more than 2,000 masks and also donate to other cities in the country.

Ventilators, laryngoscopes, disposable stethoscopes and other medical supplies are also being produced, which we hope will soon be at the service of healthcare staff in Ecuador.

We call on people who have 3D printers, acetates and any other type of material that can be used to produce these supplies, to join us and support this cause

Mira la entrevista brindada por el Vicerrector de Investigación, Juan Pablo Salgado, sobre el proyecto que se viene ejecutando a nivel nacional.