Media release
Australian Minister for Trade, Mark Vaile
Tuesday, October 24, 2000
Minister to present steriliser to South African Aids Centre
Trade Minister, Mark Vaile,
and Siltex Australia's managing director, Danny Jonas, will
present an Australian-made steam steriliser to the Baragwanath
Hospital's Aids Counselling Centre in Soweto, South Africa,
tomorrow (Wednesday, October 25).
Baragwanath Hospital is South Africa's largest, treating more than
146,000 day patients a year. Up
till now its Aids Counselling Centre has operated without a steam
steriliser (autoclave). Valued
at A$7,000 the Siltex unit will help the centre operate more
hygienically in its fight against aids.
"This is exporting at the frontline, seeing great Australian
products being put to use in a way that will help whole
communities," Mr Vaile said.
Established in 1965 and based in East Bentleigh, Melbourne, Siltex
(Australia) Pty Ltd is Australia's only specialist manufacturer of
steam sterilisers. Siltex
benchtop units are used by doctors, dentists and veterinarians and
in health care facilities around the world.
Siltex managing director and second-generation family member to run the business, Danny Jonas, said Siltex had been exporting in South Africa for sometime.
"It's great to give something back to the local community in this way. The autoclave will be used in infection control to destroy bacteria and viruses on contaminated instruments and dressings through the exposure to temperatures reaching 134 degrees Centigrade," Mr Jonas said.
Mr Jonas said Austrade's Melbourne office had supplied market intelligence and facilitated meetings that had assisted Siltex enter a range of international markets, including: NZ, Thailand, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Indonesia and Hong Kong.
Minister Vaile's South African visit is part of a 10-day trade mission (October 17- 26) with Mr Vaile leading a 30-member Australian business delegation representing LNG, health facilities, railways, horticulture and financial services to the emerging trade markets of India, Egypt and South Africa.
Local Date: Friday, 21-Nov-2008 01:21:16 EST