Victoria Michaels (2nd left) presenting face masks to EU Ambassador Diana Acconcia (left) and others
Fashion connect Africa on Friday, February 5, 2021 handed over 10,000 reusable cotton-lined, FDA approved nose masks to the EU delegation to Ghana.
This comes as part of the delegation’s support for the ongoing 1 million masks initiative launched by Fashion Connect Africa in September last year to help curb the spread of COVID-19 in deprived areas in Ghana.
The project was launched on Wednesday, September 23, 2020 where 10,000 nose masks were donated to two underserved communities namely Mepehuasem and Abuakwa. The aim of Fashion Connect Africa’s 1 million masks initiative is to educate, empower and ensure individuals and families in deprived communities are able to protect themselves against COVID-19.
The EU delegation to Ghana led by the ambassador H.E Diana Acconcia who were present at the launch of the initiative, pledged their support for the project upon seeing its relevance and impact in mitigating the spread of the coronavirus. This gesture of the EU materialised not long after the launch with a request for 10,000 nose masks which was handed over for distribution. The EU in line with their COVID-19 response intends to donate these masks to some deprived communities in Ghana through their partner NGOs – Act4Change, Galaxy Fun Club, Ink Ghana, and Plastic Punch.
The nose masks produced by Fashion Connect Africa are reusable, cotton-lined, FDA approved and fully branded in EU colours. These masks were also produced in-house at the Fashion Connect Africa garment factory where all kinds of garment products and protective personal equipment (PPE) are made. The initiative has so far generated jobs for more than 100 individuals from factory labourers to skilled designers who cut and stitch various PPE and uniforms.
The Chief Inspiration Officer, Victoria Michaels, was grateful for the support of all the partner organisations that had supported the project so far – namely American Chamber of Commerce, EU, Dalex Finance, Linfra Ghana, Chosen Cards & Gift, 1647 Garment Factory, BOJ Garment Factory, among others.
With their support, Fashion Connect Africa has produced more than 225,000 face masks from the 1 million mask initiative.
Ms. Michaels also pleaded with all the beneficiaries, recipients and the general public at large to mask up and observe the general COVID-19 protocols at all times for the safety of all. “This has become more imperative as we continue to see a surge in the numbers of those infected by this deadly virus,” she indicated.