Coronavirus: African factories in race to produce face masks, ventilators as health crisis worsens

From clothing firms to carmakers, companies across the continent are retooling to help meet the demand for essential medical gear

As the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases continues to rise, fears are also growing that vulnerable health care systems will be unable to cope

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Factories across Africa are helping to meet the huge demand for face masks. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 5:00pm, 3 May 2020Updated: 10:38pm, 3 May 2020

When Kenya reported its first case of Covid-19 in mid-March, it found itself with a biting shortage of testing kits, personal protective equipment and ventilators needed to fight the outbreak.

At that time, China, often regarded as the factory of the world, was also facing challenges in meeting both local and export demand from countries such as the United States and much of Europe.

Because of the lockdowns in China in January and February, many factories were unable to produce anything. Middlemen, anticipating the shortage of face masks – especially the popular N95 variant made by 3M – started stockpiling them, which included buying from African pharmacies and then exporting to China.

But when the coronavirus arrived in Africa, a continent that does not manufacture most of the essential medical supplies it needs, many countries were pushed into crisis.

This was also around the time that the World Health Organisation began encouraging people to wear face masks in public places, after earlier saying that with the exception of medical workers doing so was unnecessary.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Africa has been steadily rising. Photo: AP