Students to send 600 3D-printed face shields to Vaughan, Markham hospitals

Up to 1,200 face shields are expected to be sent to four hospitals next week

Yorkregion.com
April 29, 2020
Dina Al-Shibeeb

A grassroots initiative, comprised of students enrolled in medical and other health programs across the University of Toronto and McMaster University, is set to dispatch about 1,200 3D-printed face shields to four hospitals, starting Monday, May 4.

So far, the initiative known as 3D PPE GTHA wants to send 400 face shields to Mackenzie Health Vaughan, 200 to Markham Stouffville Hospital, 200 to Scarborough Health Network and 400 to Trillium Mississauga.

3D PPE is also working with more than 100 individuals and companies within the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) that have 3D-printing technology to address the imminent personal protective equipment (PPE) gap. Several individuals, including a 12-year-old boy from Beaconsfield, Que., have stepped forward to support this initiative and express their gratitude for health-care workers.

Even actor Ryan Reynolds acknowledged the initiative on Twitter. “That’s a beautiful sight,” Reynolds tweeted, in response to a post showing pictures of the face shields 3D PPE created. 

“Being medical students, we are uniquely exposed to what our front-line health-care workers are challenged with during this pandemic, but also limited from actually being able to take part and help out with patient care,” said 3D PPE’s spokesperson Yousuf Ahmed.

“This opportunity was one way that we are able to engage ourselves and our community -- together, in a way -- to help our health-care heroes,” Ahmed added.

On top of hospitals, the team is also aiming to provide face shields for family health clinics and long-term care centres throughout the next couple of weeks.

“Our extremely large team of medical and health-care students across U of T and McMaster is only an indicator to the drive that we all have to volunteer our time to cause meaningful change,” said Ahmed.

“Every time we are able to successfully deliver face shields, we are met with such a huge, thankful response and that in turn drives us to work even harder. We are grateful to be in a position to support our community.”

Details about supporting the initiative as a printer or donor are available on 3D PPE GTHA’s website, www.3dppegtha.ca.