AIP Foundation and its social enterprise, the nonprofit helmet manufacturer Protec, are transforming a portion of their factory operations in Viet Nam to produce surgical masks. — Photo courtesy of the AIP Foundation

Face masks are to be produced by a Vietnamese social enterprise’s motorcycle helmet factory thanks to a new partnership of the Vietnam-based non-profit Asia Injury Prevention (AIP) Foundation and the FIA Foundation, a global philanthropy promoting sustainable mobility and healthy environments.

To address the global personal protective equipment shortages for frontline staff, AIP Foundation and its social enterprise, the nonprofit helmet manufacturer Protec, are transforming a portion of their factory operations in Viet Nam to produce surgical masks.

The FIA Foundation will provide funds of €250,000 (US$271,064) for the production lines of specialised machinery and equipment, and will also support global distribution efforts.

Production will be ramped up quickly, starting with an initial capacity of 1.5 million masks per month.

Not only saving lives globally, the project will also contribute to the local and regional economy by purchasing supplies and securing jobs.

Protec employs over 200 employees in Viet Nam, a significant proportion of whom are living with disabilities, a population for which employment is often a challenge. Thanks to special adaptions within the factory, all employees are able to work safely and comfortably, and will now be able to continue to provide for their families.

Initially established by the FIA in 2001, the FIA Foundation and FIA have been at the forefront of global road safety in collaboration with the WHO and United Nations.

Executive Director of the FIA Foundation Saul Billingsley said: “We hope this partnership will play a part in tackling the global shortage of PPE as we all respond to COVID-19.”

AIP Foundation is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to preventing road injuries and fatalities in low- and middle-income countries. — VNS