Mask4Arunachal campaign gets an overwhelming response in Arunachal Pradesh

Our Correspondent

Itanagar: A large numbers of people in Arunachal Pradesh have uploaded their mask-wearing photos in social media including Facebook, Whatsapp and Instagram, in response to an initiative by the State chapter of Indian Medical Association (IMA), to create awareness on wearing mask in order to contain spread of Covid-19 pandemic in the State.

More than 5,000 such photos are visible in social media since Wednesday evening after the IMA formally launched its Mask4Arunachal campaign in the State during the day.

Stressing on the importance of wearing facemasks, the IMA State chapter said that it will help reduce virus transmission in the society by 80 per cent.

“It has been proved that wearing a facemask drastically reduces the transmission of Covid-19. It has also been documented by the Czech Republic that if 100 per cent mask-wearing is imposed in the society, there is a drastic reduction of about 80 per cent of the virus transmission,” IMA State unit president Dr Lobsang Tsetim said.

The IMA has requested the people of the State to prepare homemade masks for their use and leave the N95 masks for the health workers dealing with patients on a daily basis.

“In view of scarcity of facemasks, we are appealing to the weavers, tailors, NGOs, self-help groups and individuals to come up with their own ideas for preparing homemade masks. We have also appealed to the people active on social media, to popularize the campaign by wearing any facemask and post a picture with the hash tag ‘Mask4Arunachal’ to create a culture of wearing facemasks,” IMA State unit general secretary Dr Minggam Pertin said.

He said the objective of the campaign is to make people aware on the necessity to wear masks to avoid coronavirus and if people adhere to the protocol, the COVID-19 chain could break.

Dr Pertin expressed his gratitude to the people of the State for their overwhelming support to the campaign and further requested them to go for preparing their own masks instead of depending on the market and if possible to supply to those people who cannot afford to buy a mask.

“We have requested individuals and NGOs to manufacture masks and sell to the people at nominal rates. Whatever, donations we receive so far in cash and kinds, we are utilizing it for supplying masks to the people,” Dr Pertin informed adding, the IMA State chapter immediately after launch of the campaign on Wednesday, distributed more than 2,000 masks in the State capital.

The campaign of the IMA has also drawn the attention of State Chief Minister Pema Khandu who in a social media post appreciated the initiative.

“To prevent spread of COVID19, we must fight collectively as well act individually. The best way to curb the spread of coronavirus is to always wear mask when we step outside of our homes. I am encouraged to know that the Indian Medical Association (IMA) – Arunachal Chapter has launched an initiative of mask4Arunachal campaign. Under this campaign, the association intends to sensitize for 100% masks for all to prevent the spread of the virus,” Khandu said.

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