Wemy Industries, the manufacturer of Dr. Brown’s and Nightingale range of products, has started the production of facemasks and hand sanitizing wipes. The company started this journey on October 1.
The addition of these new hygiene products into Wemy’s production line is in response to the shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the country, Wemy said in a statement sent to BusinessDay.
“The increased risk of infection, especially to health care workers who are highly susceptible to contracting the virus, motivated Wemy Industries to partner with the Mastercard Foundation COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience Programand Wema Bank,” the company said.
Through the partnerships, Wemy Industries will provide PPE to health personnel, first responders, frontline workers, isolation centres, hospitals, and other relevant organizations around the country.
The project will also include the donation of 7.8 million masks to healthcare centres supporting the medical needs of the most vulnerable for the duration of the pandemic.
“With the support of the Mastercard Foundation, Wemy Industries will be able to produce and distribute 13 million surgical face masks and 400,000 packets of hand sanitizing wipes per month for the domestic market. In addition, through its distribution channels, it will be able to directly reach many of the frontline healthcare workers in Nigeria,” said Chidinma Lawanson, country head, Nigeria, Mastercard Foundation.
In line with the recommendation of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Wemy Industries will produce alcohol-based hand sanitizer and quality 3ply facemasks that filter out airborne particles and tiny droplets to ensure maximum safety.
“With the use of facemask and hand sanitizer already established by the World Health Organisation as critical equipment in preventing and minimising the spread of COVID-19, we hope that the commencement of our new production line will have an impact countrywide,” said Paul Odunaiya, managing director, Wemy Industries.
“We considered many factors in the roll-out of this project, including pricing, market size, long-term sustainability, and the import substitution policy of the federal government. However, our overriding motivation is the positive impact that it will have on the healthcare sector as it fights to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” added Odunaiya.
Wemy Industries is a hygiene company that pioneered the indigenous manufacturing of Dr. Brown’s baby diaper and Adult Diaper in Nigeria. On the other hand, The Mastercard Foundation works with visionary organisations to enable young people in Africa and in Indigenous communities in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work.
