Students Take On Disinfectant Production

Students at the Chemistry Technology Department of Hasan Akbudak İMKB Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School in Malatya are working overtime to meet disinfectant demand coming from across the country due to the new-type coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. As disinfection work is being carried out almost everywhere across the country against the new coronavirus, vocational high schools nationwide are making significant contributions to the production of hygiene materials. Students at the Chemistry Technology Department of Hasan Akbudak İMKB Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School in Malatya, which has been producing numerous cleaning materials such as liquid and foam soap, surface cleaners, glass cleaner, laundry bleach, heavy-duty degreasers, automatic cleaners, and liquid dish detergent for approximately five years, have been working intensively in recent days. The hypochlorite-based surface disinfectants produced at the school are receiving heavy demand from public and private sector institutions across the country. Students are working to meet orders coming from many parts of Turkey.

"Previously 6 hours, now 12 hours of work"

Pirvani Temelli, Director of Hasan Akbudak İMKB Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School, stated in a statement to Anadolu Agency that they have entered into intensive work due to coronavirus. Explaining that they are making intense efforts to increase production in the school's chemistry department, Temelli said, "In the chemistry department, we have one department head, 11 teachers and 70 students. With this team, we produce disinfectant products. Previously we worked 6 hours, now we work 12 hours. We work the same way on weekends. We were producing 4 tonnes of hypochlorite-based surface disinfectant daily, and after the virus, we doubled our production." he said.

"We are ready for extra work"

Noting that they have produced and delivered disinfectant to 778 official and private schools in the city, Temelli stated that they have received requests for hypochlorite-based surface disinfectant from many parts of Turkey, particularly Sivas, Kahramanmaraş, Bingöl, Muş, Elazığ and Tunceli. Expressing that they are working intensively to meet the demands, Temelli stated: "Our Ministry tells us how long to produce, and we will continue production until that period. We can produce more than 50 tonnes per month in total. From Monday until today we have produced 20 tonnes, of which we have delivered 14 tonnes. There is tremendous demand. We also receive requests from other institutions. As a school, everyone is really working with selflessness regardless of working hours. We are ready for whatever extra work comes our way." Temelli emphasized that they want to buy more raw materials with the revenue they obtain and produce more, adding that they will continue their work including weekends until they meet the demand across the country.

Nida Barut, a 12th-grade student in the Chemistry Technology Department, stated that they have experience in this matter since they have also produced cleaning materials before.

Barut, explaining that they are contributing both to their school and to the economy by producing disinfectant, said, "I have started working intensively in recent days. We are putting in more effort so that people do not catch this disease. By sending disinfectant to schools across Turkey, we are protecting our friends." she said. Mertcan Anelçi, a 12th-grade student studying at the school, also stated that they have increased their production as coronavirus cases show their impact worldwide and plan to contribute to the country by producing more. Mentioning that they receive heavy demand from all over Turkey, Anelçi said, "We are doing what we can. Our working hours have increased even more, but we are still satisfied. The products we make can contribute to others' survival. We are producing for them. Major precautions have been taken throughout the country. We are happy because we are part of this." he said.