40,000 face shields to be gifted to health workers, civil servants, other risk groups
The producing company meets local demand for protective gear with help from European Union and the United Nations Development Programme. Photo: CaucasPack
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Frontline health workers, local civil servants and other risk groups in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi and the regions will receive a total of 40,000 protective face shields produced by Georgian company CaucasPack.
The first 16,000 face shields will be distributed this week as part of a joint programme of the European Union and the United Nations.
The EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell said the local production “is vital for the economy”.
#EU is helping to provide additional 40,000 face masks produced in ???????? to healthcare and other front line workers dealing with the pandemic, together w/ ????????+???????? and @UNDPGeorgia.
— Carl Hartzell (@CarlHartzellEU) May 5, 2020
➡️https://t.co/MNsV9K8fm0#TeamEurope #EU4Georgia #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/M4JMzPJDAv
CaucasPack produces face shields from recycled plastic bottles, which are adjustable and reusable.
In normal times, it produces plastic cups and food containers. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the CaucasPack has adjusted its production lines to make face shields, thus keeping 99 employees.
These face shields are made from recycled plastic bottles by a Georgian company which rose to the #COVID19 challenge & saved jobs for 99 workers.
— UNDP in Georgia (@UNDPGeorgia) May 5, 2020
Our partnership with @EUinGeorgia helps people #staysafe during the pandemic, rescuing jobs & livelihoods ???? https://t.co/9QzhCQ62cE pic.twitter.com/w5nistEd6m
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Head Louisa Vinton said the CaucasPack “is just one example of how local producers have stepped up to provide the protective gear” that health workers and civil servants “need to stay safe” during the pandemic.
In the coming weeks, UNDP in partnership with the governments of Switzerland and Austria will purchase another 23,000 shields for 23 municipalities that have been hit the most by the COVID-19 outbreak.