New Zealand and Fiji Rotary Clubs provides 28,000 face masks for Fijians while 53,000 masks expected to arrive next month

28,000 face masks are being distributed to communities throughout Fiji through the combined efforts of Rotary Clubs in New Zealand and Fiji.

The Club says the face masks were donated to a Rotary District in New Zealand by air filter company, Lanaco and were shipped to Fiji through the financial support of the Rotary Club of Awapuni in New Zealand, and three Rotary Clubs in Fiji.

They say the masks are valued at NZ$195,000 and are manufactured to n95 levels, providing a higher degree of protection compared to surgical and cloth masks by way of filter technology developed in New Zealand by Lanaco.

Rotary Fiji says they are donating the masks to rural communities, informal settlements and villages on Viti Levu and some masks are being distributed through National Disaster Management Office, Medical Services Pacific and Fiji Council of Social Services.

The club says Nakini Village in Naitasiri and Qauia Village in Lami were also given some face masks last week.

They say masks will also be distributed in Lautoka, Nadi and Rakiraki through Rotary Fiji’s network of clubs.

Rotary District 9920 Area Governor Fiji, Poasa Werekoro says given the rising number of COVID-19 infections in Fiji, the donation was timely and very much appreciated.

He says many Fijians are having to make the stark choice of prioritising spending what little they have on food over face masks and face masks have become an essential part of our daily lives and as an additional household expense, can be inaccessible for some high-risk and vulnerable communities.

Werekoro adds a second consignment containing 53,000 face masks are expected to arrive in Fiji next month and will be similarly distributed to communities that especially need them.