CAPITAL: The Voice of Business Issue 1, 2015 | Page 75
COPPER
PDC has installed antimicrobial counter tops, taps, shower mats and even a toilet
seat (LEFT), all supplied by Cobra Watertech and Copalcor, in its clinic to reduce
the spread of viruses and bacteria among staff. A copper rack at PDC (RIGHT) is a
simple solution to the scourge of athlete’s foot in communal showers.
PHOTOS: Supplied.
candidates for copper: shopping trolley
handles, contact areas in gyms, lift control
panels, light switches — the list of surfaces
that could benefit is almost endless.
Swanepoel said that there are some
hospitals and clinics in South Africa that
have already been fitted with antimicrobial
copper, including the Phaleng Clinic in
Limpopo; the Pongola Animal Clinic in
KwaZulu-Natal; and the Masishimale
Clinic, the Maphuta L. Malatji Hospital
and Dr Sampie Ras’s veterinary surgery in
Phalaborwa.
But given the proven benefits of this
material, it does seem as if we’re missing
out on a huge public health opportunity.
We asked the country’s health
department if it had any plans to install
antimicrobial copper at its public hospitals.
To date, we have not received a reply.
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