COVID-19: PACT, University of Évora, Sharish and Incopil unite in response to the lack of Disinfectant Gel
28 March 2020
“From the first moment there is a question that I can’t get out of my head (more than the numbers!) – What can I do? What can we do? It was not enough to look at the numbers. It was not enough to try to extract (useful) information from them. More was needed. It was necessary to help, to contribute to the fight against this Pandemic!” – Professor Soumodip Sarkar, President of PACT.
It was with this missive that PACT started yesterday the collection of the first 3000 units of Disinfectant Gel to distribute, free of charge, to the IPSS in the region. A measure integrated in the Strategic Action Plan of the Alentejo Science and Technology Park, announced on March 25th.
The production of the Disinfectant Gel – a mixture of alcohol, glycerin and water – was joined by a voluntary “assembly line” to package, label and store 600 Liters of Disinfectant Gel.
Two of them, the 185ml bottles were filled, the sealed caps were inserted and there they went on to the next process. Meticulously, the labels were placed on each package and then they were immediately sorted into boxes for transport – 32 bottles per box. A process that was repeated throughout the day, until there was no more gel that allowed it to continue.
At the end of March 27, Friday, 20 boxes (640 bottles) were delivered to Cáritas de Évora and to the Nossa Senhora de Fátima Parish Center, in Bacelo; and two boxes and about 60 liters at the University of Évora. There are still packages of this production to be distributed, it is true, but the feeling of mission accomplished is striking!
The remaining packages will be distributed in the coming days to other entities in the region – which, of course, need them.
For now, we can only thank the volunteers and partners who joined this initiative, with special thanks to the Sharish Gin Distillery, Incopil SA and the University of Évora for their availability and contributions, without which it would not have been possible.
In the near future, we hope to produce another 5000 liters to give to ARS Alentejo, which will carry out the distribution according to the main needs. A goal for all, which with everyone’s help, we will achieve it!
This is the sense of mission and social duty with which PACT has worked daily and it is with this same sense that it will continue to seek to respond to the difficulties of the region.
See below the images of the entire process, from packaging to delivery.
