06 May 2020

Some poverty eradication programme beneficiaries are set to cash in from the production of facemasks for primary school pupils soon.

This comes after government gazetted regulations under the Emergency Powers Act for COVID-19 pandemic which dictate that children at primary schools shall wear a face mask or home-made item that covers their nose and mouth, a decision subject to affirmation by an ongoing special sitting of Parliament.

In an interview, Senior Assistant Council Secretary (SACS) in Molepolole Administrative Authority, which also covers Lentsweletau, Mr Gofaone Kgabanyane confirmed this, saying they had identified active 29 poverty eradication beneficiaries in the textile programme to design and produce 23 000 face masks for all 40 primary schools in the sub-district.

Some of the beneficiaries who have been engaged saw this as an opportunity since their small scale businesses were not doing well even prior to the national lockdown.

Meanwhile a group of retired nurses in Molepolole have also joined hands and procured 150 facemasks to donate to the elderly aged 65 and above at the two post offices in Molepolole and Scottish Livingstone Hospital.

A representative of the retired nurses Ms Wendy Tsiane told BOPA that their objective was to safeguard lives of the elderly against the coronavirus since they were the most vulnerable group. ENDS