Smile Foundation donates 4 300 masks to hospitals
Virustatic shields have a powerful antiviral coating that neutralises against 96 per cent of known pathogens, including Covid-19
Non-profit organisation Smile Foundation has donated 4 000 N95 masks and 300 cutting-edge imported masks with “‘germ trap” technology to medical workers on South Africa’s frontline.
CEO Hedley Lewis explained there has been a growing concern across the country around shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE), including surgical masks, visors, gloves and disposable aprons.
“Our donation of essential masks, valued at over R370 000, will be distributed to seven national hospitals,” he said. “Smile Foundation responded hurriedly during this crucial time as we are beyond appreciative for the work being done by frontline workers, and we hope we can make a significant difference by providing masks that will help to protect and support them as they continue to put themselves on the line.”
ALSO READ:
Liberty Life donates 410 school shoes in Daveyton
Smile Foundation is the only organisation in South Africa to have brought the 300 ground-breaking masks into the country. Virustatic shields, which have been specially imported from Manchester, UK, are the first masks scientifically proven to neutralise viruses upon contact, Lewis said.
Unlike ordinary masks, virustatic shields have a powerful antiviral coating that neutralises against 96 per cent of known pathogens, including Covid-19, and act as a barrier that trap and disrupt the virus’s protective membrane on contact.
“Even after the protein on the mask is deactivated – after up to 500 hours of usage – the mask can still be effectively worn as an ordinary cloth mask, continuing to offer protection and reducing disposal costs and pollution,” said Lewis. “The mask neutralises the virus droplets by making it think that it has been ‘absorbed’ into the lungs and is killed as it touches the protein base on the masks. It is lightweight, reusable and washable and moulds to the face, so medical workers can wear it comfortably for hours at a time.”
These state-of-the-art masks were sponsored by the Lubner Family Foundation. Marc Lubner, co-founder and executive chairperson of Smile Foundation, felt pioneering solutions needed to be sought to better protect the country’s medical workers on the frontline.
Lubner said Smile Foundation’s objective is to locally manufacture the virustatic shields if the demand is big enough. Through various and innovative fund-raising campaigns, Smile Foundation has also yielded medical gloves, theatre scrubs, cleft bottles, infrared thermometer guns, theatre shields, sanitisers and psychological support.
Support was received from K2 Medical, Lubner Family Foundation, Orphilia Foundation, Sasfin Bank, Rammie Sassen, YBP, sports events as well as hundreds of members of the public.
“These efforts serve as proof that no matter how small or big the amount, it all can make a huge impact,” Lewis said. “Finally, we want to thank every single medical worker who is working so hard to support South Africa during the fight against this devastating pandemic.”
ALSO READ:
Covid-19: Metro to enforce the use of masks at its facilities
