Volunteers help people wear medical face masks in Cairo, Egypt, March 20, 2020. A campaign called "We Can" was launched to help and educate people in the fight against the novel coronavirus. The Egyptian Health Ministry on Friday reported 29 new COVID-19 cases and one more death from the disease, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 285, including eight deaths. (Photo by Ahmed Gomaa/Xinhua)
by Mahmoud Fouly
CAIRO, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Sayed Mansi stopped a garbage collector in a street in downtown Cairo, sprayed his hands with alcoholic disinfectant and provided him with a set of medical face mask and gloves.
A campaign called "We Can" was launched by Mansi and his friends to help and educate people in the fight against the novel coronavirus, which has infected at least 285 locals and foreigners in Egypt and caused eight deaths so far.
"My friends and I thought that we shouldn't stand idle and we should try to play a positive role in overcoming the novel coronavirus crisis," the 23-year-old told Xinhua.
Started by five young volunteers, the campaign has expanded over the past few days and has 15 members now. Through their Facebook page, the volunteers are trying to attract more members across the country.
The campaign comes at a time when the prices of medical face masks, gloves or disinfectants doubled or even tripled in Egypt due to the extraordinary demand, which prompted Mansi to urge all Egyptians to join the campaign and help provide such supplies to those who can't afford them.
"We buy the supplies from our own pockets to distribute for free. We welcome people's support and donations in the form of gloves, face masks and disinfectants. We do not accept money donations," Mansi emphasized.
Besides providing pedestrians with medical masks and gloves, the volunteers also explain to people how to use a face mask properly, and how to keep a safe space when communicating with another person.
An old garbage collector, who declined to give his name, appreciated the campaign and the care of young people.
"They are very kind and caring. I knew from them how to protect myself from this infectious virus," the old man told Xinhua briefly before he rushed back to work.
Ola Ahmed, a woman in her mid-20s, said that she joined the anti-coronavirus campaign with her friends when her work as a nursemaid at a kindergarten was suspended due to the coronavirus.
"The people treat us very well although some are still reluctant to accept our service. But most people are very understanding. We will continue our campaign until the crisis is over," she said enthusiastically.
"We instruct people to maintain personal hygiene and wash their hands frequently. We also stop taxi drivers and vendors to tell them how important it is to wear gloves while working and provide them with some gloves," she added.
"It is a pleasant effort and a kind imitative of these young. They give us advice and guidelines to raise our awareness about the virus," said Ramadan Abdel-Hamid, a 63-year-old man.
"People need more awareness and this is what the campaign is doing. I wish they would continue and their efforts would be rewarded with success," Abdel-Hamid added.
Abdel-Razek Saeed, 37, a health ministry employee from Minufiya province, happened to be in the capital and got a free face mask and a pair of gloves provided by the campaign.
"I hope to see more of such initiatives to help those who cannot protect themselves from the virus. We're grateful to these thoughtful and responsible young people," he said.
