As part of the efforts to flatten the COVID-19 curve, professionals in the creative industry have teamed up to launch the ‘Mask Up AFRICA’ campaign across Africa.
According to its initiators, the campaign is expected to and is already creating awareness on the use of masks and raise funds to supply mask to the less- privileged.
The project is led by the Africa Film Academy, curators of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), and the Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe Foundation in Nigeria in partnership with the Joyce Banda Foundation International in Malawi and other creative collaborators.
Founder of AMAA, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, noted inna release made available to TCN that the campaign is a response to the present reality and aimed at helping Africa cope with the pandemic.
She said: “As COVID-19 continues to ravage the world, most African countries have been compelled to ease their lockdowns due to economic pressure. We are now in the community transmission phase and that is why most African governments have made it mandatory for everyone to wear masks before leaving home.
“But the fact is that 422 million Africans who live below the poverty line of $1 per day, cannot afford a mask, and that is why this campaign is important especially as statistics have shown that wearing of masks does curb the spread of the virus.”
Mask Up AFRICA coalition spokesperson, Oyin Talabi, added that clusters of tailors have begun to come together across the continent as work begins on the production of the masks.
“One million masks per country will be produced. This we believe is a way to empower SMEs and help build our various internal economies as we invest in small businesses which are the backbone of any country,” she explained.
The coalition calls on all to join the campaign simply by wearing a mask, making a 30-second video on social media supporting the campaign, and showcasing the importance of mask-wearing. Individuals can post a picture of themselves wearing a mask on their social media page with the hashtag #MaskUpAfrica.
