As efforts to curb the spread of corona picks momentum across the country, the office of Homa Bay Woman Representative has established a temporary stitching workshop to make face masks for the county residents.
The Homa Bay Woman Representative, Gladys Wanga said the workshop would produce 1,000 washable masks daily for a period of one month for distribution to the county residents.
Wanga said the workshop has been established using emergency funds provided by the government to cushion county residents from contracting covid-19.
Speaking on Friday during a press briefing at the launch of the initiative, Wanga said the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) donated Sh522, 000 to support the exercise aimed at fighting the covid-19 pandemic.
She said they sourced materials for making the face masks from Rivatex industries in Eldoret adding that they secured 10 sewing machines with 40 trained tailors to make the face masks.
The legislator said they have also purchased 4, 000 litres of sanitizers, soap and water tanks for hand washing.
She said they would distribute them to all 40 wards across the county. “We’re working closely with partners to ensure residents get support during the Covid-19 pandemic. I appeal to residents to abide by precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus,” Wanga said.
She said the materials used in making the face masks were 99 per cent protective against the virus. Wanga said they are hiring youths who were trained at National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) as tailors.
“My office is using the opportunity to create jobs for youths who recently graduated at NITA. They will be working in shifts until the programme comes to an end,” she said.
The Homa Bay County Commissioner (CC), Yatich Kipkemei, the County NGAAF Chairperson, Caroline Owidhi and Fund Manager, Jack Obonyo graced the launch of the exercise.
Yatich said the distribution of the masks and sanitizers facilities would be done fairly adding that they were working with sub county committees who in-turn worked with officers at ward level to distribute the facilities.
“Let residents utilize the facilities prudently so they serve their purpose. My office will facilitate the distribution of the materials,” Kipkemei said.
He said they were going to install sanitization materials at bus parks and stages for use. “We want people to comply with rules given by the government in curbing spread of the virus. A lot of information about how to prevent the virus has been availed,” he added.
Owidhi encouraged all boda boda riders to ensure their customers wash their hands before hiking rides in their motorcycles. “The sanitizers we are distributing should be able to reach vast sectors of the local economy,” she said.
Obonyo urged traders to maintain social distancing as they engaged in different activities in markets.
By Davis Langat
