DHAKA, March 29, 2020 (BSS) – Amid globally shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) rendered by deadly COVID-19 pandemic, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) now put concentration on it to bag the new opportunity in world market.
As some apparel factories already started producing PPE following the standard set by Bangladesh government, BGMEA wanted to export but after meeting domestic demand as the second largest apparel exporter is not used to with it. Local factories, however, would require six months to one year to produce level-4 export grade PPE.
“Our ultimate goal is to export PPE to the rest of the world and we want to do it,” BGMEA President Dr Rubana Huq told media today in a message.
She said they are already in a discussion with a coalition of ILO, WHO, WFP, UNICEF and other organizations and sought help from them to expedite the process of converting production capabilities available in Bangladesh to produce PPE.
“They will assist us with supply chain and technical knowledge sharing, and this effort is ongoing,” said BGMEA President, adding, “With their assistance it will take the industry between six months to one year have the proper know how machines and materials to produce level-4 export grade PPE.”
Currently BGMEA is planning to make at least 20,000 PPEs to be donated for health professionals to combat against Covid-19
“What we are making is a substitute of Level-1 PPE,” said Rubana, adding, “healthcare providers who deal with coronavirus patients need Level 3/4.”
Currently, it is just 100 percent waterproof and the design is close to a professional PPE and BGMEA suits will mostly be worn by support workers and doctors who are right now scared to attend their jobs because of what is happening in the world.
“We are helping with whatever we have right now for the protection of our frontier health workers,” she said.
BGMEA President said their fabrication and garments already have an approval from the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) which certified as level-1 Substitutes.
Rubana said currently many of BGMEA members are donating fabrics. “We are also planning to fund buying some fabrics.”
She said the fabric mills who are also BGMEA members are selling the fabric below cost as a sign of solidarity, but they are also alternatively sourcing fabric from China.
“As soon as we can get the certified fabric, we will be switching to certified and imported fabrics for our PPE,” she said
PPE suits are not natively made by Bangladesh garment producers. The medical grade and WHO standard fabric has to be imported and also mainly from China.