Irfaan Ali distributes 1000 face masks in Region 3

COVID-19 fight

…rolls out National Mask Distribution drive

Presidential Candidate of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, Dr Irfaan Ali on Saturday distributed over a thousand face masks in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) as he stressed the need for Guyanese to protect themselves and others against the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19).

Saturday’s face mask distribution saw not only members of the public benefiting but essential workers as well.
According to Dr Ali, it is more important now than ever that all Guyanese, regardless of their race, religion or political affiliation, to come together and fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think we can help each other and save each other by at least wearing these masks, observing the social distancing, ensuring that we wash our hands regularly and sanitise. Let us do [this] together, we have to protect each other,” he posited.
The PPP/C Presidential Candidate noted that the public needs to do their part to assist the frontline workers.

“Our doctors are out here, trying their best. Our healthcare workers, they’re trying their best too. So we have to help them and the only way we can help them is if we do our part,” he contended.
The 1000 masks distributed on Saturday were all locally produced, and carried instructions on how to care them. Ali is now calling on all Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and municipalities to ensure that they follow suit to protect people.
“We want every person to be wearing a mask… All the NDCs and Town Councils, we’re asking you to join in this ‘everyone must wear a mask campaign’. You can do a thousand masks for your communities and share it out to the elderly and vulnerable in your communities so that we protect all of Guyana,” he stated.
Furthermore, the PPP/C Presidential Candidate also made donations to essential services workers on Saturday including the Region Three Police Division.
“Once everybody wear it, we can protect each other… We’re here to help,” he stressed while handing over the mask.
The senior regional officer who received the protective gear explained that they are much needed since ranks are now cautious when dealing with offenders and this could prevent them from effectively doing their jobs.
“We are very grateful for this kind gesture. We all the police and the medical staff are the main frontline workers and have to deal with the public on a daily basis. In this period when we have to deal with the public, you find you cannot deal with them how you want to. In some cases, you find persons getting away [from the law],” the officer noted.
Ali also promised to donate a case of hand sanitiser and liquid soap to the Regional Police Division.

National Mask Distribution initiative
Meanwhile, Saturday’s drive was part of a National Mask Distribution initiative and according to Ali, they are trying to complete 10,000 local masks by Monday.
As such, he is urging seamstresses and tailors to come on board and assist with this initiative.
In an effort to play its part in the fight against the novel coronavirus, the Opposition PPP/C has established a National COVID-19 Multi-stakeholders’ Response Forum.
The ‘everyone wears a mask’ campaign is one of the measures the Forum is pushing.