ITB: Water filter technology helps recover baby with diarrhoea in Aceh Tamiang

This collaboration demonstrates how synergy between academia and industry can deliver technological solutions that provide tangible benefits to communities. Bandung (ANTARA) – The clean water filter innovation resulting from the collaboration between ITB and Paragon Corp for areas affected by the Aceh Tamiang disaster is reportedly successful, with the technology helping to recover a local baby who had been suffering from chronic diarrhoea for a month after the disaster. ITB’s Director of Communications and Public Relations, Nurlaela Arief, explained, based on reports received, that the baby gradually recovered after the family began drinking water filtered by ITB’s Mobile Water Treatment Plant (IPA Mobile), installed in Sukajadi Village, Karang Baru District. Previously, the baby’s health had not improved despite medical treatment. “This collaboration demonstrates how synergy between academia and industry can deliver technological solutions that provide tangible benefits to communities,” Nurlaela said in a statement in Bandung on Sunday. Currently, Nurlaela said, the water purification installation has been redeployed to the disaster-affected area in Aceh Tamiang, placed on the banks of the Tamiang River to withdraw murky river water. The Regent of Aceh Tamiang, Irjen Pol (Ret.) Armia Fahmi, expressed high appreciation for the Bandung-based technology which had travelled by road for a week. “I hope, with support from the government and many parties, conditions here can recover more quickly,” Armia said, noting that they are exploring further collaboration with ITB. About 1,200 residents of Kampung Sukajadi now rely on this technology. Water is distributed through towers in residential areas to ensure equitable access among disaster-affected residents; in addition, many also come directly to the installation. This humanitarian programme is the result of the collaboration between ITB’s Directorate of Community Service and Expert Knowledge Services (DPMK ITB) with the support of Paragon Corp. “Looking ahead, it is hoped that more companies will collaborate with ITB to bring about similar innovations, given that water filtration technology like this is clearly in demand,” Nurlaela said. The IPA Mobile innovation was developed by a team of experts under the leadership of ITB Rector Tatacipta Dirgantara with Team Leader Bagus Budiwantoro from the Faculty of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (FTMD) ITB and supported by the ITB LAPI Foundation. In the handover, Paragon was represented by Dwi Eliani, who witnessed the distribution of clean water to communities at Aceh’s eastern edge.