Experts, residents raise concern over quality of facemasks in Cross River State

Medical experts and residents of Calabar in Cross River State have raised the alarm over the one million facemasks being distributed by the state government from its garment factory.

The masks, meant to protect the people from the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19), according to them, did not pass through any medical or hygienic process.

Governor Ben Ayade, last Thursday, began free distribution of facemasks produced at the state’s Garment Factory to residents of Calabar, as he issued an executive order that nobody would be allowed in public in the state without a nose mask.

The order took effect from yesterday.

However, a resident, Andrew Ogar, said, “The intention of government is good but the packaging and handling of the face masks call for concern. This is just ordinary cloth sewn by tailors. Some peoples are also producing and hawking theirs at Watt Market at N100 each.”

Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Agam Ayuk, said, “The NB level of protection differs based on the type of face mask used, and the best gives you about 95 to 99