Groups of Friends Dream Foundation (GoDFF), a Seppa based NGO on Tuesday handed over around 800 handmade face masks to the state unit of Indian Medical Association (IMA-AP).

The NGO came forward to support the ‘Mask for Arunachal’ campaign initiated by the Arunachal Pradesh unit of IMA.

‘Mask for Arunachal’ is a campaign launched by the state unit of Indian Medical Association (IMA-AP) through which they distribute free of costs face masks to the people.

The IMA-AP has so far distributed more than 24,000 masks across the state.

Speaking to media persons, GoFDF chairman Kage Kamchi said the face masks were stitched by the members of the foundation themselves.

“We are making an all-out effort to help our frontline workers who are risking their lives for our safety and stitching face masks for them is one among our small initiative,” Kamchi said.

Kamchi appealed to the people of the state to cooperate with the government in containing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also informed that the GoFDF recently contributed Rs 1 lakh to the East Kameng deputy commissioner’s relief fund so that the basic essentials could be brought for the needy people with that money.

Meanwhile, IMA-AP general secretary Dr Jego Ori while thanking the GoFDF and several other organizations, NGOs and individuals for contributing to the ‘Mask for Arunachal’ campaign said they have received 14,815 face masks till date.

“We have also collected an additional 9,381 face masks through various other approaches,” Dr Ori said while adding that the IMA-AP has distributed around 24,196 masks to the people free of cost till date.

Manaki Natung, an active member of the GoFDF and wife of sports and youth affairs minister Mama Natung, also handed over 50 handmade masks to the media fraternity of the state on the day.

The face masks were received by Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists president Amar Sangno.

Damien Lepcha is Northeast Now Correspondent in Arunachal Pradesh. He can be reached at: lepcharaul@gmail.com