We have been able to provide 3,000 locally made re-usable face masks to our staff and to our volunteer fish conservation committee members, who are helping us to spread the word about the importance of social distancing, the use of facemasks and handwashing to those living in fishing communities along the lakeshore.

Our staff are now also sharing facemask patterns with those that they are working with on our Changu Changu Moto cookstove project so that the villagers learn how to ensure that they make masks which meet the WHO standards.

The distribution of the masks was covered on national television by the Malawi Broadcasting Commission, in The Nation and The Times national newspapers and on Chilundu Community Radio. This publicity will also ensure that the messages about the importance of social distancing, handwashing and the use of face masks when out and about will reach many more people in areas other than where we work.