COVID-19: Nakasero market vendors receive masks

May 13, 2020

Smart Girls Uganda, partnered with Tenge Afrocentric Fashion House and Hope Hub to distribute the masks and sanitizers to vendors in the market.

HEALTH  RELIEF  COVID-19

KAMPALA - Smart Girls Uganda a non-profit organization has aided Nakasero Market women vendors with 200 masks, 200 sanitizers and 200 waste bags in a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Smart Girls Uganda, partnered with Tenge Afrocentric Fashion House and Hope Hub to distribute the masks and sanitizers to vendors in the market.  

During the launch of the donation drive at Nakasero market, the project leader Jamila Mayanja said the donation was part of their project dubbed ‘Masks 4 All'

"We came up with an initiative that seeks to avail masks at an affordable cost to the general public while donating to the most vulnerable women in markets, young people in slums, boarders, barracks and refugee centres at no cost," Mayanja said.

She said, "Following President Museveni's directive on markets to remain open, but vendors to set up camps in them, we designed reusable three-layer masks and bottles of hand sanitizer, which we give out to the most vulnerable groups for free."

 Mayanja said markets are congested and women make up the majority population putting them at a higher risk of contracting the virus because of their day-to-day interaction with people like producers, customers and some of their family members. 

 
She revealed that they began making masks in March 2020. 

The organization employs the youth and women among whom are former sex workers and survivors of Gender-Based Violence. They were trained in tailoring before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tenge Afrocentric Fashion House Founder, Daniel Mickoh said their mission is to make and distribute protective gear to one million people countrywide.

"We are using the guidance of Uganda police and local leaders to help in the distribution. This process will also include awareness sessions using community radios and public media on how to use the masks and other safety measures when the lockdown is lifted," he said

Geoffrey Rwakabale, the town clerk for Kampala Central Division said masks will remain essential even post-lockdown.

"The vulnerable in our communities may not be able to afford them in the mid to long term and it is therefore imperative that organizations offer such initiatives to bridge this gap.  

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Smart Girl Uganda and all its partners for this initiative and call on other like-minded organizations to work together to help in the prevention and mitigation of the virus." Rwakabale said.

He concluded that alongside other recommended measures including mass testing and contact tracing, masks play a vital role in preventing the spread of COVID-19. 

 

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