GEORGE NEWS - An enthusiastic group of women at Groenkloof Retirement Village are on a mission to help provide a large supply of cloth masks to the George Hospital.
Since Friday last week up until Monday 6 April, they've managed to sew 50 masks.
"Any volunteer who has a sewing machine and cloth is welcome to start sewing. The masks are for patients and visitors.
"Although there are not a lot of visitors at present, the staff also need masks when they go out in public to shop, as they cannot use official equipment for this purpose," says Desiree van der Vyver, occupational therapist at the hospital who is coordinating the project.
The masks must be sewed according to the pattern and guidelines provided by the health department.
Groenkloof resident Cheryl van Zyl, who is overseeing the mask-making at the retirement village, says 25 women have joined the effort.
"They work with the fabric they have at home, but we welcome donations of fabric. A gentleman from Earls Court who had heard about our project, dropped off a bootful of fabric for which we are so grateful."
Amanda Barnard, a Pretorian who moved to Groenkloof four weeks ago, also jumped in to do her bit. She used to make T-shirt dresses for abused girls at shelters in Pretoria and took that up again last week as she is not one to sit around idly. "When the urgent request for masks came through, I decided to rather offer my help with that for now."
She makes a mask in 20 minutes and has completed 25 masks in two days over the weekend.
Dilemma: protecting health care workers
The request for masks from George Hospital came in response to the dilemma the National Department of Health (NDOH) is facing in protecting health care workers amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
ecause of the shortage of personal protection equipment and soaring prices of surgical masks and N95 respirators, particularly, the department has said that alternatives for the public and non-health workers have to be found as temporary measures.
Amanda Barnard was quick to respond to a call to make masks for George Hospital patients and staff to use when they out in public.
Cloth mask not suitable for front-line healthcare workers
The health department says cloth masks are not suitable for high-risk use such as health care workers, but may be used by the community who are undertaking non-healthcare duties or are entering public places where no physical contact is required.
These include, for example, where people are in crowded areas such as shops or government institutions, people in self-isolation in shared accommodation, retail staff and cashiers, taxi drivers and passengers, community healthcare visitors who are not undertaking treatment of patients, the police and municipal street cleaners.
350 masks completed
Van der Vyver says the Night Shelter has also asked for 200 masks. "To date, I have received 350 masks. We have a driver who can collect the masks or drop off donated fabric if the volunteer does not have her own cloth. Masks may also be dropped off in a box at the main security gate of the hospital."
She reckons that the project will have to be ongoing for the next three to four months to help provide enough masks to the local community. "We would like to also distribute masks at taxi ranks and on buses where people cannot always practise the required social distancing."
The occupational therapy department at the hospital has sewing machines and pressure clothing for burn wound patients is made there.
"Sewing for medical purposes is not new to us. I wish to stress that volunteers must please make sure they know the guidelines for wearing and taking off a mask and how to wash and iron it. A mask should never be shared with anyone else."
For the pattern and guidelines, phone Desiree van der Vyver on 082 390 3858.
Related article: Create your own personalised 'Essential accessories'
'We bring you the latest George, Garden Route news'
