The HG Mask
A novel, patented PPE solution engineered to close systemic gaps in healthcare worker protection — and designed, uniquely, to enhance communication accessibility for Deaf and hard-of-hearing healthcare workers and patients.
HG Mask product photographs
The national context
PPE as a frontline enabler of safe, equitable care
South Africa is navigating one of the most ambitious health-system transformation agendas on the African continent. Anchored in the National Health Insurance Act, Act 20 of 2019, the government is committed to delivering quality, equitable, and accessible healthcare to all residents — regardless of socioeconomic status, geography, or disability. Within this transformative landscape, the effective procurement, evaluation, and distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) remains a critical operational imperative — not merely as a logistical function, but as a direct enabler of frontline healthcare-worker safety and patient-care quality.
Disability-led innovation
Protection that includes everyone
The Deaf-Care Healthcare Initiative (DCHI) is a disability-led health-innovation organisation founded and led by Deaf healthcare advocate Dwayne A. Harris. DCHI has developed the HG Mask — a novel, patented PPE solution engineered to address systemic gaps in healthcare-worker protection, particularly in high-volume, resource-constrained healthcare environments.
The HG Mask has been designed with universal applicability in mind, with specific features that enhance communication accessibility for Deaf and hard-of-hearing healthcare workers and patients — a cohort too often excluded from mainstream PPE design considerations.
At a glance
- Patented 4-in-1 face / head covering unit
- Integrated face mask with removable face shield
- Secure, adjustable headgear for fit and comfort
- Communication-accessible design for Deaf & hard-of-hearing users
- Engineered for high-volume, resource-constrained settings
See it in action
A demonstration of how the HG Mask works
Watch how the HG Mask combines a face mask, removable face shield, and secure headgear into a single, easy-to-use unit.
Can't see the video? Watch it on TikTok.
Why it matters
Strengthening procurement intelligence for the NHI era
Healthcare-worker infections, burnout, and occupational exposure remain persistent risk factors threatening South Africa's health-system resilience. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical vulnerabilities in PPE procurement, distribution, and efficacy.
As South Africa builds toward a functional NHI system, strengthening the procurement intelligence available to the Office of Health Products Procurement (OHPP) — including access to innovative, rigorously evaluated alternatives — is both a strategic and operational necessity. The HG Mask Licensing Partnership places the National Department of Health (NDOH) at the forefront of responsible, inclusive, and evidence-based PPE innovation.
Partner on the HG Mask
For licensing, evaluation, or partnership discussions around the HG Mask, get in touch with the DCHI team.