June 2013
6
Dr. Elly Opot, KMA chairman and Mr. Rao at the launch of Medicryl
A paint that fights bacteria?
You must be kidding!
A stay in hospital is something many
people dread. No one likes to fall sick but
life is such that we cannot avoid illness at
some point in our lives. Of even greater
concern is the risk of contracting a deadly
infection while in hospital. Cases of
patients contracting infections while in
hospital have been reported in some parts
of the world. Recently, three patients died
in Scotland from Clostridium Difficile
Infection (CDI) which commonly affects
people staying in hospitals.
Clostridium difficile is a form of bacteria
that causes diarrhoea, abdominal cramps
and severe swelling of the bowel.
According to the World Health Organization
(WHO), seven out of every one hundred
people admitted in hospital in developing
countries like Kenya run the risk of
contracting hospital-related infections.
Also known as nosocomial infections,
such infections complicate the patient’s
condition and impose a heavy financial
burden on the affected families.
However, a paint solution has been
developed by Crown Paints UK that helps
curb the growth of certain types of bacteria.
Medicryl Silk Emulsion is formulated to
prevent the growth of bacteria and fungus.
The paint was launched in the Kenyan
market by Crown Paints Kenya Limited in
April 2013. The introduction of Medicryl
in the Kenyan market is expected to
contribute significantly to improvement of
healthcare in public and private hospitals.
Kenya Medical Association Chairman, Dr
Elly Opot, who was the guest of honor at
the launch of the new product at a Nairobi
hotel, hailed the product as a welcome
intervention in the health sector.
“We commend Crown Paints for bringing
this innovative product into the Kenyan
market. We believe it will help improve the
capacity of our health facilities to provide
quality services in a friendly and safe
environment,” said Dr Opot.
In addition to its ability to resist certain
kinds of bacteria like Escherichia coli and
Staphylococcus Aureus, Medicryl Silk
Emulsion is also fast-drying, low-odour
and easy-to-apply. This makes it ideal for
buildings that require a high level of hygiene
and also a quick turnaround for paint jobs.
“The product is designed for application in
hospitals, clinics, hotels, restaurants and
school kitchens. It is a premium product
delivered at an affordable cost,” said Crown
Paints CEO, Rakesh Rao at the launch.
Medicryl has received a seal of approval
by the Institute for Microbiological Studies
based in the United Kingdom. “The
endorsement by IMS is significant given
the overall beneficial impact on the living
environment,” said Crown Paints Chief
Marketing Officer, John Hadley.
The launch of the product emphasizes
Crown Paints’ relentless focus on
innovation-led approach to products.
The firm has in the past introduced first-
of-their-kind coating solutions such as
Permacote with Teflon
®
surface protector,
a paint that makes surfaces dirt and stain
resistant and thus easier to clean.
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