Morocco Faces Mask Shortage as WHO Praises Coronavirus Preparedness

Morocco has the human and technical resources needed to deal with the coronavirus, said Maryam Bigdeli, WHO representative in Morocco, in an interview with Barlamane. She said that the WHO has evaluated the national surveillance, preparedness and response system put in place by the kingdom, before its operationalization. According to her, the risk that this virus will reach Morocco is high, in the sense that the WHO Director-General has already declared a public health emergency of international concern.

These statements have increased the concerns of many Moroccans. They were already fearing the spread of the virus in the kingdom due to the shortage of medical masks. Worse, the price of these masks has risen. Demand is high while the product is virtually no longer available.

"At the beginning of the mask shortage in the regions affected by the coronavirus, Moroccan companies that supply medical equipment sold the quantities of masks they had to companies that then exported them to China. However, we have been resupplied with new quantities that were quickly sold and are now being marketed at exorbitantly high prices," explained Bouthaina Iraki Houssaini, pharmacist and CEO of Locamed.

"The mask is not a solution. It should only be worn by people who already have the virus to prevent infecting others. Instead of wearing masks unnecessarily, you should wash your hands frequently, avoid close contact and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth to protect yourself," she advised.