The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with the district administration and local partners, are set to produce hand sanitizer in their effort to curb the spread of coronavirus.
After assessing the market conditions, IOM collaborated with the Cox’s Bazar district administration to explore the possibility of producing hand sanitizer locally in accordance with WHO guidelines for local production, said a statement issued by the organization.
The district administration acquired all necessary permits and permission from the Department of Narcotics Controls to procure and transport raw material required to produce 20,000 litres of hand sanitizer.
IOM, with local partners Prottyashi and Green Hope, will produce a total of 100,000 bottles of 200ml hand sanitizers to equip at least 50,000 local government, law enforcement, and other community personnel who are delivering essential services to the public.
“With this joint response, the district administration and IOM are continuing to combat Covid-19 collaboratively,” said Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Md Kamal Hossain.
“The local production of hand sanitizers will prevent transmission of the virus in the district’s communities and improve our hygiene practices,” he added.
Host community members were recruited by IOM and partners to support production and will be trained and supervised by professional pharmacists.
Many of these host community members have lost their traditional livelihoods due to the Covid-19 lockdown and its subsequent economic impact. The production of hand sanitizer will help them meet some of their household income needs, said IOM in their press release.
Quality control, testing, and training are monitored by the IOM Health Unit.
Supporting the project, Taslima Akter, a beneficiary from Ukhiya, said it is the first time she got the opportunity to work on such a project.
“It is also my first job, so I am happy that I can support my family financially in this lockdown,” she added.
Patrick Charignon, head of IOM’s Transition and Recovery Division in Cox’s Bazar, said: “This project, jointly initiated with the district administration and partners, will contribute to IOM’s overall Covid-19 response.”
“In addition to wearing masks, regular hand washing, and maintaining physical distance, the provision of hand sanitizer to local government, law enforcement, and other community personnel aims to disrupt the transmission of the outbreak,” Patrick commented.
