Using sewing machines in the fight against Covid-19
KUCHING: Sewing machines and nimble fingers have become the latest weapons to fight against Covid-19 at Tanoti House here, where volunteers have been making various forms of personal protective equipment (PPE) for Sarawak General Hospital’s (SGH) medical front liners.
Director Jacqueline Fong said the project came about after her brother Raymond heard of the critically low shortage of PPE at SGH, which led to medical workers there being insufficiently equipped to protect themselves while carrying out their duties.
“SGH uses an average of 500 pieces of PPE per day. So we decided to try and see if we can generate enough items for the hospital to ensure their PPE stock is at a comfortable level so that they will be able to cope if Covid-19 cases here rise,” she told The Borneo Post.
Fong hoped the project would serve as a stopgap measure amid the severe disruption in the global market for PPE.
“Our objective is to ensure that our healthcare workers are properly protected even though they don’t have the purpose-made protective gear at this time of great need.
“They still have to go about doing their job and if what we can do can mitigate their risk of getting ill, I’m sure this contribution will be enough to help fight the onslaught of the Covid-19 crisis,” she said.
Since the project started on Saturday, Fong said her team of volunteers have managed to produce nearly 900 pairs of boot covers and over 300 pieces of hood covers.
“We procured the materials from Kuching suppliers because that’s the easiest because we do not need to wait for stocks to arrive.
“The fabric is of clinicalgrade material and it’s waterproof, withstands heat, and intended for single-use only,” she said.
She added that there are 45 volunteers making the PPE while another eight have volunteered to produce the pattern block, sort materials, pack the finished items, and provide logistics.
Fong said when she first started spreading word about the project, she did not expect the response from the public to be so overwhelming.
“We are very touched by the enthusiasm of the people in Kuching who came forward and expressed their interest to help us sew the PPE,” she added.