Nigerian Lady Using Ankara Mask To Help Prevent Spread Of COVID-19 In Canada
By Uchendu Onuoha
According to John Donne, Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind, And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.
Her name is Faith Uchechi Eluwa, a Nigerian lady resident in Ottawa Canada. For Faith, the bell of the COVID-19 death tolls for her, as she is involved with humanity in Canada. And she doesn’t wait for what Canada can do for her, but what she can do for Canada. While Scientists in Canada and all over the world are passing sleepless nights in their laboratories researching to come up with a vaccine to cure and stop the deadly virus that has brought the whole world to her knees.
Here in Ottawa, Canada, while others are locked down in their houses eating and sleeping, Faith Eluwa, who is the Vice president of the Nigerian Canadian Association Ottawa {NCAO}, is passing sleepless nights and days at home, like Scientists in their laboratories, with her needle, sewing and kneading textiles like Lydia and Dorcas of the Holy books would do acts of kindness to produce purple and dresses for the women of Thyatira and widows in the city of Joppa.
Likewise, Faith, who saw the period of the pandemic as a time of ”Necessity is the mother of invention” has discovered the period of pandemic and lock-down, as a time of innovation and creativity to use textile materials to produce Ankara facial masks, which she gives away to support people in the COVID-19 hard time and help stop the spread of the virus in Canada.
TheSay News correspondent had a brief interview and chat with the amiable lady recently. And below are the excerpts.
Que. What motivated you to do what you are doing?
Ans. The love for people and the need to save lives motivated me to do that.
Que. When did you start the distribution and what means do you use?
Ans. The distribution started on April 7th, 2020, and is still going on. I made a comment on whatsaap forums and Facebook page letting people know that I am giving away Ankara facial masks to support people in the COVID-19 hard time, and that whoever that is interested should inbox me. A lot of people send me messages asking for it. Also,I used to share the mask at St Laurent Mall and some by post.
For Faith Uchechi Eluwa, the fight to stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada is a fight for all.
