EU Ghana and Fashion Connect to distribute face masks to vulnerable communities

Health News of Saturday February 6, 2021

Source: GNA

02/06/2021

The Delegation of the European Union (EU) in Ghana, in partnership with Fashion Connect Africa, donated 10,000 reusable masks to four non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to distribute to vulnerable people and communities.

The masks were meant to allow people who could not afford them to adhere to security protocols for the COVID-19 pandemic.

The NGOs are Act4Change, Ink Ghana, Galaxy Fun Club Tema and Plastic Punch.

Beneficiary communities include Jamestown, Usher Town, Mamobi, Nima, Tema and Dansoman.

Ms Diana Acconcia, Head of the EU Delegation to Ghana, said the delegation and its partners have decided to distribute standardized reusable face masks as they offer a sustainable and environmentally friendly way to protect people from the COVID-19.

Every day, billions of face masks were thrown away in many public places without being recycled, causing problems with litter on land and at sea, she said, and explained that the situation could be controlled with reusable masks. .

Ms Acconcia said that EU solidarity between different countries in Europe and countries outside Europe, such as Ghana, remained a priority and that the EU would embark on a new project to provide a more environment. green and healthier in schools.

The project would combine measures to fight COVID-19, such as awareness campaigns, art competitions and the donation of hand washing stations.

She will also donate garbage cans and composting bins and raise awareness about waste separation, she said.

Ms Victoria Michaels, Director of Inspiration, Fashion Connect Africa, said that her company’s “ One Million Masks initiative ”, launched on Wednesday 23 September 2020, came to fruition after the delegation from the EU has ordered 10,000 face masks from their clothing factory as part of their efforts to help reduce the spread of the pandemic.

She said the masks were 100% cotton-lined, reusable, approved by the Food and Drugs Authority and marked according to EU color specifications.

The EU delegation has once again proved that Fashion Connect Africa can count on its support and meaningful partnership, she said.

“This and many other previous synergies between us made the EU delegation a true friend of Ghana. Your continued support for this project will help us reach thousands of Ghanaians who cannot afford a nasal mask in underprivileged communities, ”she added.

Mr. Richmond Kennedy Quarcoo, executive director of Plastic Punch, one of the volunteer NGOs, said that Plastic Punch, trying to find sustainable waste management solutions during the COVID-19 outbreak, realized that agents of Health in Sanitation had not been provided so much recognition for their work given the fact that they were highly exposed to the virus while collecting garbage.

He said his team had therefore proposed a project called the “Punch Corona Campaign” to promote the protection of vulnerable people, including sanitation health workers.

Mr Quarcoo said the NGO would therefore distribute the face masks given to sanitation health workers and expressed gratitude to the EU and Fashion Connect Africa for their support.

He encouraged the public to use more reusable masks, saying this saves more than 50 disposable masks, which could end up indiscriminately in the environment.