The Zambian Roads and Highway Safety Group (ZRHSG) has plans of distributing 2 million (2,000,000) home-made masks over a period of 5 months to bus crews and passengers at bus stations and markets around Lusaka as a way of halting the spread of the corona virus around the city.
The project dubbed “Pushing Corona Out of Lusaka” is expected to cost USD 60, 120 and will involve the hiring of tailors and volunteer road safety and health experts to distribute these masks and sensitize passengers and bus crews to wear masks at all times while in the bus or in public.
The goal of the Pushing Corona Virus Out (PCO) Project is to halt the spread of the coronavirus in Lusaka among its 2.6 million inhabitants by providing home-made face masks to bus crews, motorists, street kids, and passengers.
The Zambian Roads and Highway Safety Group is aware that bus stations and markets are a hive of activity and therefore are a potential epicenter at the spread of the coronavirus in Lusaka. The Group is also aware that the virus does not move on its own but is moved through human to human interactions through the public transport system which in Lusaka comprises of poorly ventilated Minibuses that have for a long time been squeezing five passengers per seat (known as five –five) instead of 3 passengers per seat. This means passengers are in close proximity and contact of one another and breathe in the same corrupt air. If one sick passenger sneezes in the bus, the chances of the entire bus getting the virus are very high.
The Zambian Roads and Highway Safety Group is also aware that most of these buses are often cleaned using water drawn from all sorts of sources including ponds and streams around Lusaka. Their levels of hygiene are very low as compared to the acceptable standards and requirements of cleanliness to prevent and defeat the corona virus.
The Project draws lessons from Countries like Czech Republic and others that have rolled out the use of home-made face masks and have recorded less infections significantly slowing down the spread of the corona virus in public places as those that are infected cannot spread it and those that don’t have it cannot inhale infected droplets because of face masks.
“We invite embassies and donor agencies that have funds for fighting the corona virus to partner with us in making this project a success and sure that this virus is stopped from spreading in our markets and bus stations through the provision of these vital face masks,” says Group Admin Mthoniswa Banda.
“Our fear is that there is a passenger or bus crew member currently with the corona virus still in its incubation stage and they are spreading it every day unknowingly in these buses and markets,” says Group Admin Mthoniswa Banda
Don’t plan, people, do it!! Fakani speedi….well done!!
Don’t encourage Zambian overcrowding with these ineffective home made masks coz coronavirus cases will only increase with such misinformation.
This is what is expected of citizens. Rather than waiting for government to wipe your backside as diasporans are used to abroad, be proactive and find solutions too. The government is not there to spoon feed you. I acknowledge that our friend in diaspora have now become used to living off handouts from their adopted governments. And think it should be the same here. Please this is Zambia where we work and don’t wait to be fed. Kz
Very typical of myself. Waiting to be given a cloth mask and yet I can sew it at home! Mwebantu what has become of us?
Why do you need embassies and donor agencies when you can do it by yourselves? Times are changing so change your mindset and start being independent. Revive old companies like Kafue and Mulungushi Textiles to start local production of masks, protective clothing for medical staff etc.
In any case, wearing masks should not be a substitute for washing hands and social distancing. The latter is more fitting for our climate.
And they will wear the mask for 3 weeks till it turns brown …face mask only helps when you are sick to prevent others from getting sick ..its no good if your hands are not washed. I laugh when I see people in the streets wearing DIY white dust masks as if they would help against a virus.
Serious we need to think outside the box engage local tailors sewing masks then flood them on market lower the price let it be affordable to the citizens am sure it can be a win situation let us do away with these foreign masks can we do in Zambia way
A great idea. For it to be impactful we should not aim for a timeline of 5 months as these are need immediately. As other posters have pointed out, local tailors should be mobilised to participate in this process to ensure distribution efficiencies. What will need to be controlled is the quality of the masks. There must be some minimum standards of what constitutes an appropriate mask with regards to material used and design. If such information can be made available, materials controlled purchased and distributed, plus training for tailors (this can be done virtually through smart phones and online), then we can achieve the required scale. Such coordination role is possibly what the ZRSHG and partners should focus on including correct use (frequency of use etc. The focus should not only…
In the Czech Republic, people have been making the cloth masks in their homes. We have enough chitenge materials in our homes. Tiyeni titunge. My chitenge mask will protect you and your chitenge mask will protect me.
Kerrison – And who is going to certify them ..do you not know that that is a health safety product that need QC certification
That sounds like a brilliant idea by the private citizens.. than just crying to be invited.. I’ve never seen that attitude!! Keep it up guys!!!
This is very commendable. SPREAD FACTS and IDEAS not fear and insults. Considering that the economy is not robust enough to realistically sustain a long shutdown or lock down , such home grown ideas will help win the battle and lead to self reliance in many areas of life. Go a step further, don’t wait for donor funds to start executing such brilliant inventions.
Masks are useless unless proper hand hygiene is observed by all. This is doubtful given the lack of proper sanitation in our towns and cities.
They started off well until they started begging for assistance from embassies. Then we got to know the true intentions.
This might be 2 million masks for 2 millions dollars. Pa Zed check?