The Minister of Mines, Industries and Technological Development has regulated the production and distribution of face masks and hand sanitizers in Cameroon.
When the Prime Minister and Head of Government, Dion Ngute Joseph announced the obligatory wearing of face masks as from Monday April 13, 2020 across the national territory, demand for the product skyrocketed in most cities of the country.
Demand was more than supply since the prescribed face masks were scarce and the few found turned out to be costly given that one is supposed to be worn for a duration of maximum 3 – 4 hours.
To satisfy Cameroonians, most tailoring workshops and small organisations turned to produce and market face masks nationwide.
The situation gradually transformed into a new business with just every one becoming a producer and/or distributor.
The government saw it as another danger to Cameroonians as most of the masks do not respect the normal health production and distribution procedures in the country set by the national standardisation agency, ANOR.
It is against this backdrop that the Minister of Mines, Industries and Technological Development, Gabriel Dodo N. Signed the decision to stop all unauthorized productions and distributions of face masks, hand sanitizers including other health products.
The decision to a greater extend is to protect citizens from infections linked to poor production and distribution of the masks.
On their part, local producers who acknowledge the pertinence of the act from government, are not happy with the move because they say to obtain such certificate is not an easy task in Cameroon, and with the present situation of Coronavirus spread, it becomes even more difficult.
News Upfront caught up with one of the production houses in Buea, South West region of Cameroon to find out how they appraise the outing of the government minister.
One of the promoters of the production and distribution center, Ngum Doris accepted to talk to us.
Below is the interview she granted News Upfront;
News Upfront: Good day Madam, government says you need certification for the production and distribution of face masks, what is your reaction to that decision?
Doris Ngum: We find the decision of the Government troubling, especially at a time when there isn’t enough measure, not to even talk of protective equipments to protect the very vulnerable population.
News Upfront: Are your products up to standards with respect to what it takes to protect citizens against COVID-19?
Doris Ngum: Our protection masks are priotized to protect the population against covid-19, thus protect against bacteria, dust, pollen, etc.
So, our masks go a long way in protecting against other possible airborne or droplet infections way beyond the covid-19 pandemic in institutions that need them.
We do believe the covid-19 and other viruses, bacteria, etc have come to stay and would not just disappear somehow upon demand.
News Upfront: Some people think the decision is a ploy to favour specific companies, what is your take on that?
Doris Ngum: The government’s decision requiring a certificate to produce masks could be a ploy to favour some few companies or even get in some money into the treasury. That option can not be exempted, but globally is a health safety act.
However, at this time, these companies can not make available these masks prompts to protect the population.
News Upfront: What is your benefit in this business?
Doris Ngum: Though our primary objective is to protect the population and save lives from covid-19, we can not definitely do that at a loss.
News Upfront: You don’t yet have a certification, would you continue or abandon the venture?
Doris Ngum: We will keep on providing the masks to protect our population, while we seek to obtain the required certificate from the government, and hopefully they can grant this real quick.
Health experts believe that what ever the case, the distribution of non packaged face masks rather put users at risk since some customers turn to test such masks before purchasing that with suits them.
Reasons why the respect of standards becomes premordial in a context and society like ours.
By Louvier Kindo Tombe
