Mass production of masks progress hailed

SIMON MUNTEMBA writes  THE production of face masks at Mulungushi Textiles in Kabwe District for pupils that will open classes on June 1, is progressing well. Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit-(DMMU) which is spearheading the project has expressed happiness with the production rate of face masks. DMMU national coordinator, Chanda Kabwe said the 100 sewing machines which were recently procured are making over 1,500 masks per day.  According to DMMU senior communications officer, Rachel Chama,  Mr Kabwe said this when he toured Mulungushi textiles to check on the production of face masks for school going children. Mr Kabwe said they were currently 100 machines with a capacity of 1,500 masks per day being made by women as a way of empowering them. He said following the directive by President Edgar Lungu, DMMU engaged the Ministry of Defence, which was managing Mulungushi textiles to produce the masks for school going children in examination classes. He, however, noted the need to increase the human resource in order to fully utilize the available machinery and meet the target of 2.3million face masks before schools re-open on June 1. The total number of pupils in examination classes is 1. 3million and government is targeting to give atleast two face masks to each pupil.  Mr Kabwe further said government had also engaged four market associations to produce more face masks.  “These are National Traders and Marketeers Association of Zambia (NATMAZ), Association of Vendors and Marketeers (AVEMA), Zambia National Marketeers and Credit Association (ZANAMACA) and the New Life Giving Ministries,” Mr Kabwe said. He said those associations were also conducting community based disaster risk management in markets and other public places to ensure communities at risk were equipped with adequate information on how to prevent, manage and respond to emergencies.  And Mulungushi textiles general manager, Micheal Phiri said the institution had the capacity to produce and would deliver the required masks before schools reopened.  In his fourth COVID-19 address to the nation, President Lungu directed DMMU and the Ministry of Health to ensure all pupils in examination classes in both primary and secondary, were provided with face masks and other hygiene requirements as they reopen schools to prevent the spread of the COVID-19. The Sun