AGRI-PULSE – VRYBURG - Raees Ahmed Khan, a Grade 11 learner from Vryburg High School made it to the top 2% of learners in the world who had the opportunity to showcase their innovative projects alongside various other top achieving students from South Africa, Russia, Mexico, Ireland, India, Turkey, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique and Lesotho in the Eskom 2024 Science Expo for young scientists.
14 500 students across the world participated and only 308 were chosen to participate at the International Science Fair this year. The Eskom Expo for young scientists is the most prestigious event for science on the continent of Africa and is globally recognised. The 17-year-old Khan did not only attend, but was also one of a very few learners to get awards at both of the event’s awards evenings, this being his first year ever participating in the Expo - making it even more impressive. Khan received the following awards for his innovative invention - a portable automated health device:
The Exhibitors’ award for the project that stood out the most at the entire event at the special awards ceremony. This award is listed as one of five prestigious awards at the Expo. He received a R1 000 cash prize along with a mouse pad sponsored by Eskom Expo; International Gold Medal awarded to projects that received 80 -100% after extensive judging by qualified individuals in that specific category (Engineering). Only the top performing learners receive gold in each category. Khan received another cash prize of R1 000 sponsored by the Eskom Expo. As a first time achiever in the science field, Khan said that the achievement is validating and rewarding and the recognition for the hard work is worth it and a great confidence booster. “I truly believe that with the youth being actively involved in the energy and medicine sectors, it really helps with the innovation and the upholding of the infrastructure of the country because we can bring fresh perspectives to the country,” said Khan. With the fast rate that technology is advancing, it is important for the youth to play an active role in the fast pace.
The idea for the portable automated healthcare device entered Khan’s mind when he noticed that there are real issues in the medical sector, (Khan is a certified First Aider), that can prevent death or injury, if they have access to First Aid products. “The device is also for people with chronic medical conditions and who needs the medication to be kept in optimal conditions that can become ineffective when travelling,” said Khan. Khan explained that the device has diagnostic capabilities that ensures that patients take their medication according to the correct dosage and at the correct time. “Everything about the patient’s medication is synchronised to a website, so that the data is available when any changes to medication is needed. Apart from having a refrigerated unit to keep medications such as insulin cool, the device also has a diagnostic unit that consists of an oximeter and a thermometer that measures your oxygen levels, BPM and temperature and everything is recorded and synced to the website so you have a detailed history of all of your medical vital information,” said Khan. Khan added that the device can help doctors treat and diagnose patients faster so medical practitioners can give more effective treatments, because they have access to the patient’s detailed vital history where they can detect any medical illnesses and problems faster and treat major symptoms faster.
Khan elaborates on the device: “The device has built-in first aid products that are all NFC-tagged (near communication field), that implies if a cellphone is held near the first aid product, it will direct the patient to a video wherein I explain the use of that product. There’s also an emergency procedure page in the device that shows patients exactly what to do in every possible emergency. It shows what steps to take and tells you what to do and how to use the first aid products in the device. Essentially, you have every single thing that you would need for an emergency so that you can stabilise a patient before Emergency Medical Services arrive. It really is an all-in-one device you can take wherever you go.
It runs with a uninterrupted power supply (UPS system) which can run up to eight hours without being connected to any electrical outlet, so that ensures that you can travel with the device for up to eight hours without it being connected to anything. It can be charged with a 12V battery or with a type-A phone charger, so it can also be charged by a power bank. You can charge the device with a cigarette lighter and at an electrical outlet.”
Khan concluded by saying that a mentor for the International Science Fair played a major role in helping him during the project and that the Eskom Expo is really beneficial, because he constantly learned with determination.
