Social enterprise seeks help to make Protective Face Shields for frontliners

CORONAVIRUS | With more resources being deployed as frontliners in hospitals deal with the Covid-19 outbreak, a local social enterprise has stepped up to ensure that those on duty are being protected against the virus.

The Biji-Biji Initiative - a group that aims to inspire creative community-driven solutions - has launched a project to produce protective face shields for Covid-19 frontliners who remain on duty throughout the movement control order period.

The project was launched as part of efforts to address the shortage of face shields in the market, including for use by frontliners in hospitals and other health facilities.

“Due to the shortage of protective gears, we are currently working with a group of volunteers, makers and Team 3D Printing Malaysia to produce protective face shields for the Covid-19 frontliners.

"We are in urgent need for the materials needed to make these shields," the group said on Facebook today.

The listed items include acrylic sheets (4mm or 8mm), A4 transparent plastic sheet (0.2mm), PLA filament, elastic (the kinds used for tailoring), sponges and hot glue.

Interested donors can contact Biji-Biji via its Facebook page.

Various groups had previously raised concerns over a shortage of face masks in the market, including for use of doctors, nurses and other medical staff.

In response, Senior Works Minister Fadillah Yusof yesterday announced that a total of 10 million face masks will be brought in from China in stages, with priority for distribution given to the frontliners on duty.