The Oxygen Colab has awarded a £61,495 grant to the Oxygen Alliance to support the development of the BME Konza App, an innovative mobile platform designed to empower biomedical engineers and technicians in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This vital funding will accelerate the app’s development, enhancing the capacity of healthcare professionals to maintain and repair critical medical equipment, ultimately improving patient care in resource-limited settings.
The BME Konza App is set to become an essential tool for biomedical engineering professionals, offering a comprehensive suite of resources, networking opportunities, and technical support. Core features under development include:
- Maintenance Resources: Access to tutorials, manuals, and videos covering both basic and advanced biomedical engineering topics, as well as specific procedures for maintaining and repairing diverse medical equipment.
- Technical Support: A feature enabling users to request expert assistance, upload photos or videos of technical issues, and receive step-by-step guidance on troubleshooting and repairs.
- Offline Support: To ensure usability in areas with limited internet access, the app will include offline maintenance guidelines and a repository of common troubleshooting questions and answers.
- Community Network: A platform for biomedical engineers and technicians to connect, share experiences, and exchange solutions, fostering a collaborative global community.
- Training and Development: Access to training programs, webinars, and courses aimed at enhancing the skills and knowledge of biomedical engineers and technicians.
The Oxygen Alliance’s BME Konza App aligns with Oxygen Colab’s mission to support innovations that strengthen the oxygen ecosystem in low-resource settings. Alongside two other groundbreaking projects—FREO2’s Low Pressure Oxygen Storage (LPOS) system and Remote Monitoring Unit—this app is part of a broader initiative to ensure nearly 100% uninterrupted oxygen supply in hospitals worldwide.
As the launch of the BME Konza App approaches, this collaboration marks a significant step forward in addressing the critical need for reliable biomedical equipment maintenance in LMICs.