COVID-19: Use Ankara To Sew Face Masks – SGF Tells Tailors

It is no longer news that the world at large at this time is battling with a pandemic which has become a global threat taking lives in hundreds on the daily.

Fearful enough, even the developed nations despite their scientific knowledge and resources available at their disposal are yet to find a vaccine for the COVID-19 disease.

Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday in Abuja, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Boss Mustapha who is also the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on combating Coronavirus advised Nigerian fashion designers to start using Ankara materials to produce face masks in high numbers for people to use.

According to the SGF, the production of the face masks using the local material will encourage citizens to start using the face mask even when they are outside of their apartments.

Boss Mustapha, however, reiterates that Stay-At-Home still remained the best option in curbing the spread of the pandemic.

He added that adhering to the previously laid down guidelines by the Federal Government and Health Agencies which include, personal hygiene, social distancing, restriction of movement, early reporting of symptoms and wearing of masks regularly, remains the best measures citizens should adopt for the prevention of the killer virus from spreading further in the country.

His statement reads: “Let me also encourage all our garment factories and tailors all over the nation that this is the time to start producing locally, using our local fabrics, the Ankara and all other materials that we have because of advisories that as much as possible, we should wear our face masks whenever we are outside our homes.”

“That way, we’ll reduce the chances, in addition to other necessary things that you need to do, of infection or infecting others.”

“It is critical to repeat, however, that compliance with the advisories for personal hygiene, social distancing, restriction of movement, early reporting of symptoms and wearing of masks regularly, especially in public, remains the best measures for the prevention of infections and to slow down the spread.”

Meanwhile, Nigerians have been warned by a medical expert to shun the rumour and claims that consumption of alcoholic drink and herbals as a remedy for combating Coronavirus disease in the states.

According to Dr Akintunde Ogunfeyimi who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria in Ondo State, the consumption of local gin and herbs as a means of ending the spread of COVID-19 is nothing but a false report.