Marc Koska
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| Marc Koska | |
| Born | 14 March 1961 Bournemouth, England |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Inventor |
Marc Koska OBE was born in Bournemouth on 14th March 1961. He is best known for inventing the K1 syringe, a syringe that automatically disables, helping heathcare workers avoid accidental needlesticks.
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[edit] Biography
He attended Stowe School in Buckingham, and then traveled for several years with a short period working in the City of London. He skied, sailed and worked his way around Europe, US and the Caribbean. In the Caribbean he worked as a model maker of scenes of crime to be used in courts. As of 2007, Koska lives in Sussex, England with his wife and three children.
[edit] K1 Syringe
In 1984 Koska read a newspaper article predicting the transmission of HIV through the reuse of needles and syringes. Koska was fascinated by the problem and vowed to do something about it. He studied how drug addicts used syringes in the UK, went to Geneva to learn about Public Health Policy, visited several syringe factories, studied plastic injection moulding, and read everything available on the transmission of viruses like HIV.
After a year of intense study, he concluded that syringe manufacture was the key to the problem. Koska designed a syringe (K1) that could be made on existing equipment with a small modification. It was made from the same materials and could be used in the same way as a normal syringe so that healthcare professionals would not have to retrain. K1 syringes cannot be used again so the next patient will also have a sterile and safe injection.
Koska recognized that new syringes were only one part of the solution. One must also teach the public about the dangers of reusing needles. In 2005 Koska founded, SafePoint, a non-profit dedicated to educating children about this issue.
[edit] Recognition
Marc Koska and his company, Star Syringe Limited, have been recognized for their work in the following ways:
- OBE, Officer of the Order of the British Empire, presented to Marc Koska by HRH Prince of Wales in February 2006.
- Queen's Award for Enterprise for International Trade awarded to Star Syringe in April 2006
- Paul Harris Fellowship, awarded by Rotary International in June 2006.
Special Award in Recognition of the Outstanding Contribution to Society and Social Responsibility, The Wealdon District Council, February 2006.
2005:
- Corporate Social Responsibility Award, Finalist, National Business Awards
- Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Highly Commended, National Business Awards
- International Business Award, Runner Up, Sussex Business Awards
- International Business Award “Stevie”, Best Multi-National Company
- Special Award for Contribution toward Development of Safe Syringes presented by the Federal Minister of Health, Pakistan
2004:
- Business Innovation of the Year, Highly Commended, National Business Awards
- Special Judges Award, Design Business Association
- Entrepreneur of the Year, Sussex Business Awards
- Smart Business Funding Award, UK Department of Trade and Industry
- Special recognition medal, British Inventor’s Society
1999:
- Millennium Product Status
[edit] References
- [1] BBC Radio 4 interview about Marc's uphill battle to get Governments & health workers to prevent the more than a million deaths a year caused by unsafe medical injections - 17 May 2005.
- [2] Winners of The Queen's Awards for Enterprise: International Trade 2006 that lists Star Syringe Ltd
- [3] "My fight to stop deadly jabs" by Sue Ellis, BBC News - 16 Feb 2005
- [4] "From Harm to Hope", Immunization Improves Injection Practices in the Countries of the Mekong - UNICEF
