MLSD Minister praises the efforts of volunteers from productive families in the manufacture of protective masks

19-06-2020

His Excellency the Minister of Labour and Social Development, Mr. Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, praised the efforts of productive Bahraini families and female trainees who graduated from training courses at social centres, who volunteered to produce 100,000 protective masks as a first phase and as a national initiative within the framework of national efforts to limit the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID‑19). This was supported by the Ministry in terms of providing raw materials and workplaces in accordance with social distancing requirements, so that they will be distributed free of charge to all citizens and residents, and with specifications that comply with the health requirements issued by the Ministry of Health. Humaidan expressed his pride in the Bahraini citizen volunteers, each according to his position and responsibility. The productive Bahraini families who took the initiative in the campaign to manufacture masks without compensation and in many other locations demonstrated their responsibility and initiative in standing up to any emergency or event that required their participation and standing in line with other segments of society. This is not something strange for the Bahraini citizen who is accustomed to volunteering and giving in all fields that the country needs. Humaidan said that the Ministry of Labour and Social Development and the Royal Humanitarian Foundation attach great importance to productive Bahraini families and are committed to supporting them in every way possible, including training, product development, and marketing. This is done with the aim of encouraging them to continue working and producing, thereby contributing to raising their standard of living and income, as part of the drive to encourage entrepreneurs. In a related context, Humaidan praised the role of the Royal Humanitarian Foundation, Bahrain Telecommunications Company (Batelco), and other official and civil society organisations in encouraging the initiative and supporting volunteers to produce and distribute masks in cooperation with the Ministry of Labour and Social Development to members of society and expatriate workers. He emphasised that this approach confirms the positive interaction between all segments of society and the effective community partnership that serves communities, citizens, and residents. Humaidan stressed that the Ministry of Labour and Social Development has undertaken to provide the raw materials needed to produce masks for the volunteers, as well as to provide safe and healthy work sites for them, while the Royal Humanitarian Foundation and Batelco have undertaken to support the volunteers, as approximately 40,000 masks have been produced so far, and work is still ongoing to meet the increasing demand, especially after the issuance of health decisions confirming the continuous wearing of masks in workplaces and all public places. He explained that a number of civil society organisations have also agreed with the Ministry to distribute the masks that are being produced to citizens and residents. Humaidan highlighted the comprehensive plan developed to distribute masks free of charge to citizens and residents, as part of community partnerships and coordinated national efforts in cooperation with government agencies, civil society institutions, and community-based individuals.