Guardtech support Ugandan COVID battle with lab donation

Suffolk-based controlled environment design and build specialists, Guardtech Group, have donated one of their portable laboratories to the Ugandan government to support the country’s fight against COVID-19. 

The Haverhill cleanroom construction firm have gifted the CleanCube Mobile Cleanroom, one of their Mobi models worth around £50,000, to the Ugandan People’s Defence Force’s (UPDF) medical services department as a result of experiencing unexpected growth during the pandemic. 

Guardtech have supplied more than 40 CleanCube PCR testing labs across the UK and more, and the solution has won the SME Cambridgeshire Business Awards gong for Business Innovation and the Federation of Small Businesses Award for Business & Product Innovation. 

The Ugandan CleanCube will not only be used to battle COVID in remote parts of the country but will also go on to provide much-needed dental health provisions and other medical services once it’s repurposed.  

Guardtech director, Ray Wheeler, said: "The pandemic has really taken its toll on everyone, but it’s also been an unexpected source of growth in our business due to the demand for our CleanCube van and container labs for PCR testing. 

"We wanted to give something back – and having contacts in Uganda where the need for aid is so critical, we felt a donation to their cause was something positive that we could do in return. 

"We realise how grateful the UPDF is for this donation, as resources for the essential medical work they do is limited."

Major general, Dr Ambrose Musinguzi, added: “Thank you so much to the Guardtech Group for the generous donation of this mobile laboratory – it will make such a difference to the quality of service that we can offer to our people in the villages.” 

The Guardtech Group currently offer six different CleanCube models – the Mini (20ft), Midi (40ft) and Maxi (40ft double) containers, Mobi and Mobi+ van conversions and the stackable Multi modular buildings. 

However, plans are in place to introduce a new series of standard model solutions that will help to further meet the needs of a wide-ranging, complex customer base with varying needs and requirements. 

Commercial director, Mark Wheeler, said: "Our team has worked tirelessly over the past few years to develop CleanCube into a high-spec, innovative yet practical and economical solution that really delivers for clients.  

“In doing so, we’ve identified certain trends in particular industries and applications that have allowed us to refine a series of models that will serve specific clients working in similar areas.”