Hospital grade hand sanitiser and reusable, cloth face masks will be distributed to Aboriginal Communities in NSW by the Aboriginal Health & Medical Research Council (AH&MRC) through their 47 Member Services.
“These protective measures remind Communities to remain vigilant as COVID-19 becomes the new normal, and testing rates drop in NSW. It is especially important as some people can be infectious with COVID-19 but show no symptoms,” said Robert Skeen, AH&MRC CEO.
“Cloth face masks offer a sustainable option for Aboriginal people to protect their families and Communities. They also reduce the financial burden of buying disposable masks. Spreading the messages about avoiding crowded places, washing hands regularly and wearing the masks is also important to keep Aboriginal Communities safe.”
The three-layered cloth face masks were purchased from an Indigenous supplier, Kulbardi. The masks meet NSW Health recommendations and include a water-resistant layer on the outside to give the best protection. The AH&MRC is pleased to see 1% of sales will go to the Bibbulman Fund – a Kulbardi initiative that designs and delivers programs around entrepreneurship, education numeracy and literacy to Indigenous Communities across Australia.
“From the start of this pandemic, AH&MRC has worked hard to make sure Aboriginal Medical Services can access enough supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gowns and masks to continue their response,” said Robert Skeen. “We appreciate the support of NSW Health in helping us provide supplies to our Member Services. We will continue to advocate for more sector funding to guarantee the best health outcomes for Aboriginal people.”
Along with keeping 1.5 metres apart, getting a COVID-19 test, wearing a mask is one of several precautionary measures Aboriginal Communities can take to prevent the spread of COVID-19. With COVID-19 testing rates low in NSW, AH&MRC strongly encourages anyone with flu-like symptoms to immediately have a COVID-19 test. Find the nearest NSW COVID-19 testing clinic here.
For more information visit the NSW Health website or download AH&MRC’s brochure: Frequently Asked Questions on Cloth Face Masks.
Aboriginal Health & Medical Research Council is not for profit organisation working to support Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services to deliver better health outcomes for Aboriginal people in NSW.
