Respite came the way of people of Umuatako Community in Aba as they can now protect themselves from contacting oronavirus as one of them, Mrs Jecinthia Kakaide, decided to produce and distribute facemasks to them free of charge,
People in the community can now put on the facemasks following the decision of Mrs Jecinthia Kakaide to embark and initially distribute freely her locally made nose masks to her neighbours and members of her community.
When our reporter visited her, Mrs. Kakaide said she took the decision when she noticed many of her people could not afford to buy a facemask.
She said the price of a facemask has gone up to N600 a piece in Aba, which many of them found it difficult to afford because of their poor economic status.
According to her, she has so far produced over 300 and shared it to the young people, who are always on the streets.
“I just want to help people, because the foreign facemasks is expensive and we can’t afford it. It is dangerous for one to be walking up and down without the nose masks that’s why I embark on the production.
“I have made efforts to reach a commissioner in the government, who told me to continue the production, and promised that government will come to my aid.”
She said she used Ankara materials to produce them.
Speaking on the production process, Mrs Jacinthia said after sewing the masks she soaks them in detergent and hot water before giving them out for use.
Kakaide said she has started selling each at N150 naira.
Mr. Okechukwu Lawrence, a member of the community, who had also purchased one described it as ‘good and comfortable to use.’
Lawrence said he has purchased three to share among members of his household.
