In Zambian prisons inmates will produce fabric masks to protect from coronavirus. Like this, Covid-19 will become an opportunity of redemption for the inmates.
It’s an initiative promoted by CELIM within the project «The second chance», that offers an opportunity of economical and social redemption to the prisoners.
«Facing the danger of the virus spread – says Gianclaudio Bizzotto, Country Representative of CELIM -, Zambia immediatly took remedial actions. Since the first days, President Edgar Lungu has imposed the popolation to wear masks in public places. Then in the past weeks the representative of penitentiary amministration said that everyone, policemen and inmates, must have at least two masks, one to put on and one to wash after using it.»
Production in prison can be organized in a very short time.
In the past months, indeed, CELIM has distributed sewing machines in some prisons with the aim of teaching the inmates tailoring techniques and offeringa job opportunity once they will get released.
To face the emergency given by coronovirus epidemic, we thought to involve them, instead of in realizating clothes, in packing fabric masks.
«The masks – goes on Bizzotto – are made with two layers of fabric and one of filter material. They are reusable forever if carefully managed and they give an amazing protection against the virus. Between today and tomorrow we will buy the necessary cloth and the production will start the next days. The first masks will be given to the prison officers and their inmates. Right after, the production might be put on the market and the individual masks might be sold at the population, thus generating an entry.»
The fact that they are made of fabric makes them environmentally eco-friendly because they are washable and reusable.
«Consistent with the attention that CELIM reserves to environmental issues – closes Bizzotto -, we wanted to avoid disposable masks that will be thrown away after only one use and they will increase the already existing mass of waste to be disposed of. The ones made of fabric are eco-friendly but at the same time, as some studies of United Nation confirm, they represent a valid defense against the spread of Covid-19»
via Donatello 5 B
