UPCT student Guillermo Belda is part of the volunteer group that manufactures medical supplies for the Cieza area.
The coronavirus crisis knows no social class, age, or academic level. Neither does solidarity to overcome this health crisis. The desire to help others is paramount in all cases.
That is precisely what encouraged Guillermo Belda (Cieza, 2001), who is studying Electronic Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT), to join the AIRE project and start printing 3D visors to distribute them in the health centers of his hometown, Cieza.
"I'm in my first year and I have two 3D printers at home, so when I joined the project, I contacted 15 or 16 other people in Cieza who had 3D printers, and we set about making the most useful things at the moment, which are the protective screens," says Belda, who is also part of the UPCT Drone Team.
In the first batch of protective screens, they managed to manufacture 125, which were delivered to the Lorenzo Guirao Hospital.
"The visors are much quicker to make, taking about 45 minutes," explains the young man, assuring him that participating in a project of this magnitude is "very exciting; it's like completing an internship in record time."
He assures that although there are only 7 coronavirus cases in Cieza at the moment, they have "quite a lot of work" ahead of them, because in addition to supplying 3D material to the healthcare workers at the Cieza hospital and health centers, they are also going to produce material for nursing homes, for the Police, and, he indicates, they are even requesting material from the municipality's funeral homes.
"I feel very satisfied to be able to help so many people. I have family members working at the hospital who asked me to do something," he adds.
These days, Guillermo combines his studies with the manufacture of 3D medical equipment. "I have my notes next to the 3D printer, and sometimes it's a bit stressful because you're studying while also coordinating with others to get the equipment ready. The printers don't stop; they're running all day," he notes.
However, all that stress is offset by seeing that "engineering can help people a lot. I'm rubbing shoulders with engineers, students... and seeing how innovation happens and how very useful things can be done is very encouraging."
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I feel so proud of all of you, grateful for all your efforts, and impressed by the strength, will, and joy with which you all face any difficulties you face. You all make a great team, and I know your families encourage and help you. It's true that as part of the healthcare system, I can confirm that every little bit helps! You are necessary, thanks to our strength and attitude! Cheer up, good luck, and (virtual) kisses!