Kitui Textile factory to make face masks in fight against Coronavirus

As Coronavirus continues to evolve and impact communities worldwide, Kitui County Textile Centre (KICOTEC) has started making face masks locally to curb its spread.

KICOTEC is making sample face masks and other preventive gears as the government steps up measures to fight the rising number of infections.

This maiden venture by the Kitui County Government has seen the production of hundreds of samples that will be presented to the Health Cabinet Secretary (CS), Mutahi Kagwe and Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) for approval and subsequent orders.

Making the statement, Monday, Kitui County Governor, Charity Ngilu, said that KICOTEC has the capacity to make thousands of masks per day.

This venture comes at the backdrop of the recent passage of Sh100 million by the County Assembly in favour of the local Ministry of Health and Sanitation to fight the virus.

The Governor noted that the lack of masks, gowns, eye gear among other protective gears was hampering the ability of medical workers to fight coronavirus and putting their own lives at risk.

“With Covid-19 infections soaring, doctors, nurses and other front line medical workers, KICOTEC has the capacity to upscale the production of masks, surgical gowns and eye gear to protect them from the virus,” said the Governor.

She disclosed that the supply of protective gears would allay healthcare workers’ fears of exposure to the virus not only to themselves but their families and others.

Meanwhile, Kitui County continues to support the fight against the spread of the deadly virus and has adopted the recommended Ministry of Health and WHO guidelines, including washing of hands and observing social distancing.

“This is an unprecedented time in our history as the Coronavirus pandemic is having an impact on people’s health, businesses, global economy and communities face daily disruptions,” said Ngilu.