Page 11 - UNAM Forum ED1-2020

UNAM & NBL TEAM UP

TO FIGHT

COVID-19

he University of Namibia (UNAM), supported by Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) – a subsidiary
of the Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group is in the process of manufacturing more than 32, 000 litres of
hand sanitizers to address the acute shortage in the country. The sanitizers packaged in 300ml,
500ml, 5L and 25L bottles are destined for UNAM stakeholders, also including government
Tentities and State Owned Enterprises (SOEs).

UNAM Acting Director: Communications & Marketing, Johannes Haufiku explained as follows: “The
severe outbreak of the disease in Southern Africa, has led to a shortage of ethanol; a key ingredient in
sanitization products. The high demand and lack of supply has made the product expensive, and out
of reach for the communities that need it the most. With a population of more than 30 000, UNAM’s
Faculty of Science together with the School of Pharmacy, initially produced sanitizers for exclusive use
by the large UNAM community. Thereafter, various external entities started requesting for assistance,
hence the further production of more sanitizer.”

According to Haufiku, UNAM approached NBL for support to successfully execute the project. As
a result, NBL made available its brewing facilities for the production of the sanitizers. NBL Managing
Director, Marco Wenk: “As a proudly Namibian establishment, passionate about the future of this
country and the health of its people, we gladly got on board to support this extremely important
initiative and project by UNAM. We thus gladly made our facilities available for the successful
production and execution thereof. After all, we are all in this together.” Wenk further noted that NBL,
as a brewery can unfortunately not assist with producing high ABV ethanol – as its yeast and brewing
process does not get the ethanol thàt concentrated, with a maximum 8% ABV reach under normal
circumstances, which is far too low for the production of sanitizer.

Brewing experts from NBL have been working closely with UNAM scientists to come up with a solution
that is feasible, in hopes to help the country fight the pandemic. says Haufiku: “We are extremely
grateful for NBL and the O&L Group at large for their support and assistance. The way we could work
together as one and as a true Namibian team, speaks volumes of the potential as a one Namibia.”

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