Priced at more than VNĐ300,000 per unit, a mosquito-repellent machine made by two enterprising junior-high school students is small, useful and cheap. It’s perfect for the pocketbooks of the rural residents of Phu Hoa District in the central coastal province of Phu Yen.

Eighth grader Cao Hoang Vu and ninth grader Tran Thi Bich Ngan of Hoa An Junior High School won third prize for their machine in the 11th national Teenagers and Children’s Creativity Competition (2015-16).

Living in a poor rural area, Vu and Ngan were motivated to help the locality, which has been affected by petechial fever during the rainy season.

The machine has two sections: a mosquito-eliminating part that attracts the insects into the device and kills them, and a wind-creating component that emits air to cool users.

Teacher Nguyen Van Phu, who provided technical support to the students, said: “I praised their creativity because the machine helps users cut 60-70 per cent of the cost of electric fans or other mosquito-repellent machines sold on the market.”

Nguyen Hoai Son, chairman of the Phu Yen Union of Scientific and Technological Associations, said local agencies were considering registering the machine for intellectual property rights and asking for support from experts to manufacture the machine.

VNS