Major shops — operating under essential service providers —
and members of the public, are set to receive free health sundries for
protection against coronavirus.
The personal protective products are being produced by
selected tertiary academic institutions after Government availed a $33 million
package, as one of the measures to contain the spread of the viral infection.
It is understood that the University of Zimbabwe, Bindura
University of Science Education, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Midlands
State University and the National University of Science and Technology have
been producing hand sanitisers, face masks and disposable plastic coats.
The sundries are being distributed to the Ministry of
Health and Child Care as well as Zimbabwe Republic Police for officials
undertaking frontline duties. Some will now be distributed to the public.
It has been gathered that at least 125 000 litres of
sanitisers, 166 000 masks, 70 surgical theatre gowns and 60 000 disposable
plastic coats have been produced since the second week of this month.
Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and
Technology Development Professor Amon Murwira said Government was committed to
ensuring adequate funding for the production of protective products against
Covid-19.
“Government, through the innovation hub fund, has set aside
about $33 million that will be channelled towards the production of PPEs
(personal protective equipment),” he said.
“Our universities are producing the equipment and so far
the Ministry of Health (and Child Care) has been supplied with 19 400
disposable plastic gowns and we have also supplied the ZRP with masks.
“We started production during the second week of April and
we have seen tremendous results.
“Soon, some of these products will distributed to retailers
to be used by the general public. This is the type of education that we want to
advance going forward.”
Most countries are facing shortages of protective sundries
due to increased demand as a result of the coronavirus.
The scourge has seen 29 Covid-19 cases being recorded in
Zimbabwe with four deaths and two recoveries as of yesterday.
Globally, by yesterday,
200 000 people had died, three million cases had been confirmed positive
of the deadly disease while 800 000 recoveries
had been recorded. Sunday Mail
0 comments:
Post a Comment