ISLAMABAD: Acclaimed fashion designer Asim Jofa is stepping up for the country’s medical community by designing protective gear for health care workers on the frontline of the coronavirus battle in Pakistan.
“Being a responsible Pakistani, it evoked a feeling in me to step up and help in whatever capacity I can,” Jofa told Arab News over the phone, adding that his brand decided “to make medical protective suits for our frontliners.”
Pakistani designer offers tailor-made solution for frontline health workers
Pakistan, just like the rest of the world, is facing an unprecedented crisis in trying to contain the spread of the virus with 13 deaths reported across the country as of Sunday.
With limited resources and medical facilities to deal with the rising number of infections in the country; doctors, nurses and health practitioners are often forced to tackle infected patients without protective gear.
Pakistani designer offers tailor-made solution for frontline health workers
To fill the gap between demand and supply, Jofa and his team conceptualized a plan by teaming up with the Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center (JPGMC) in Karachi and its Executive Director, Dr. Seemi Jamali, to ensure that the suits produced are up to standard and as per expert guidelines.
“The suit is being made with PE material suitable for medical use. We are also researching on more materials which can be used,” Jofa said.
Still in the sampling process, the suits – which are fully-funded by the brand – will be ready for production “very soon.”
“I’ll be able to tell the proper time required for it’s making and how many suits we can make at once a second sample is reviewed [by both Jofa’s team and the medical team consulting],” he said.
For now, he hopes the initiative “would encourage other brands to follow.”
“It’s a small contribution on our part... All the caregivers, including doctors, nurses, paramedics and people who are in the frontline fighting for us are our national heroes, and I admire their courage for rising to the challenge,” he said.