Since nations across the world are adapting this basic line of defense as an additional layer of protection and reporting success, it is necessary that AccLabGM also incorporates these solutions into its pandemic response. With the scarce supply of medical resources, recommendations emerged from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the WHO that promoted the use of non-medical (cloth) masks as a substitution to medical grade masks for non-health personnel. This activity falls under AccLabGM’s support to the COVID-19 Response project and Learning Cycle 2.

Connecting through various networks, AccLabGM reached out to local entrepreneurs and institutions and formed strategic partnerships leading to the formation of a project to support youth and female entrepreneurs to produce and distribute cloth masks (45,000). Together, with current efforts of the International Trade Centre (ITC), the Ministry of Health and WHO, funds and approaches are integrated to help scale, standardize and ensure quality control whilst providing income generating opportunities particularly, for vulnerable businesses and female entrepreneurs.

Partners currently identified

Mbolo Association - track record of training youth, particularly women, on a variety of skill sets. They are currently providing cloth masks, washed, sanitized and packaged before distribution to the communities.

The Woman Boss - have a consortium of young women entrepreneurs that they can easily coordinate to produce the capacity required, distribute and donate to communities and vulnerable groups within the Greater Banjul Area and rural Gambia.

COVIDGambia - launched a grassroot initiative for a Masks4All campaign for the distribution of masks to vulnerable populations whilst supporting young entrepreneurs and raising awareness about the pandemic.

Women Initiative Gambia - helps financially poor women to improve their skills and income so as to raise the standard of living of their families and their communities. Specific projects are established through local rural women’s groups.

Distribution Plan

Market vendors | traders

Children

Police | Military | Prison personnel

Border communities

Taxi drivers | Ferry services