DaNang (VNS/VNA) - A group of volunteers in the central city of DaNang have raised funds to make more than 200 automatic, hands-free handsanitiser dispensers which were given to disease prevention and control teamsacross the city.

The dispensersaim to help curb the spread of COVID-19 which broke out in the city sincelate last month, resulting in Vietnam's largest COVID-19 outbreak to date.

Respondingto the resurgence of COVID-19 in the central city, people of differentages working in different fields wanted to join the fight against thedisease.

Theyestablished a voluntary group called Weekend Club to help out in their freetime.

PhamDuc Duong, a founding member of the group, said that Weekend Club’s membersdonated money and also sought donations to make the hands-free hand sanitiserdispensers.

Witha sensor system, the machine automatically releases hand sanitiser gel whenpeople put their hands under the faucet.

“Peopledon’t have to press any button or touch the machine,” Duong said.

Themachines use rechargeable batteries so they can be placed anywhere withoutrequiring a power source, he said.

Itcosts about 1.5 million VND (65 USD) to buy materials for one machine whichmembers of the group then assemble.

NguyenNam Dinh, a volunteer, said the machine made of iron looked quite steady.A machine includes a box with an electronic board inside, a sensor placed nextto a faucet, a battery charging set and a bar to put a hand sanitiser bottleon.

Hesaid that with a height of 1.2 metres, the machines were quiteconvenient to use.

“Eachmachine can be used continuously and after their batteries are recharged, theycan release gel about 8,000 times,” Dinh said.

HoKy Nam, a member of the COVID-19 prevention and control team in Hoa KhanhMarket, said that the machines were very convenient and effective.

Beforeentering the market, people had to queue to wash their hands, Nam said, addingthat the automatic hand sanitiser dispenser helped them clean hands quickly andsafely, minimising the risk of infection.

“It’seasy to move the machine, very convenient,” Nam said.

Alocal resident in Lien Chieu district, Le Thi Phuong, said that she usuallywent to Hoa Khanh market and found the hands-free dispenser very useful.

Thoseusing it kept a safe distance from each other and did not have to touchanything to clean their hands, which made them feel safer, she said.

Duong,head of the voluntary group, said that besides the automatic hand sanitiserdispensers, the group also donated 60 thermometers worth more than 70 millionVND (3,031 USD) to disease prevention and control teams across the city.

Thisweek, the group is providing 200 free meals for student volunteers in thecity.

Duongsaid that the group was calling for more supports so that they could make morehand dispensers for public use.

Hesaid famous footballers including Bui Tien Dung, Ha Duc Chinh, NguyenQuang Hai, Doan Van Hau and Nguyen Dac Van gave the group 50 millionVND to make the dispensers while they also donated another 250 million VND forthe city’s disease prevention and control activities./.