Engineering contributed N95 masks, hundreds of gloves and cleaning supplies to the Saskatchewan Health Authority

USask unites: Engineering donates N95 masks

The University of Saskatchewan (USask) College of Engineering contributed N95 masks, gloves and more when USask called for donations of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health-care workers.

By Engineering & University Communications

The college's contribution to the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) included 64 N95 masks, which are in high demand world-wide. It also donated 73 boxes of gloves, bleach, two boxes of task wipes and 500 dust masks.

"We were happy to contribute what we had on hand," said Dean Suzanne Kresta. "It's not enormous, but certainly enough to provide support and security to an important group of people working hard to save lives."

Engineering's items were part of a delivery made earlier this week to the SHA. The donations came from all areas of campus and several student groups.

"We are in close contact with 3S Health, the arm that handles the Saskatchewan Health Authority's procurement and supply chain," said Richard LeBlanc, director of enterprise procurement with finance and resources. "We have consolidated our holdings of materials that they may find useful, and we have provided them the list with the intent of transferring anything they need over to them as soon as they ask."

A team of procurement professionals at USask has also offered its services to help source and acquire the hard-to-get materials that the SHA may be looking for. It is doing so while continuing to support the USask community.

"We continue to support our researchers as well (VIDO-InterVac), in ensuring that they are supplied with the materials they need to continue studying the disease and to continue testing possible vaccines," said LeBlanc.