By Gbadamosi Oladimeji
With the demand for facemasks on rapid rise in Nigeria and supply utterly limited, the Federal Government has revealed that cloth face covering is an alternative to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Minister of State for Health, Adeleke Mamora, revealed this on Tuesday during the Presidential Task Force briefing in Abuja, advising Nigerians to go for home made mask to minimize community spread.
As witnessed in other countries, a simple cloth face covering slows the spread of the virus and help people who may be infected and do not know from transmitting it to others.
Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.
And according to Mamora, this would go a long way in reducing the risk of the spread of the COVID-19.
The Minister, though, urged Nigerians to avoid using masks made of nylon or polyester materials.
He noted that the need to avoid mass gatherings without protecting yourself cannot be overemphasized.
Mamora added that the use of face masks or barriers that covers your mouth and nose, has been scientifically proven to reduce the spread of respiratory infection.
He, therefore, urged all Nigerians to practice hand respiratory hygiene.
“The improvised cloth mask will suffice at the community level,” he said.
“With the community transmission, we are doing active case search in communities and this strategy requires more testing kits and diagnostics.
“Currently, we are accessing additional laboratories for accreditation and we will announce more laboratories soon. We have 13 so far”.
Mamora also noted that the government has intensified efforts in risk communication at the grassroots level.
Speaking further, he thanked health workers and other front line officers for making the daily sacrifice to curb the spread of the coronavirus in the country.
As at Monday evening, out of 7,432 samples tested, 665 returned positive.
