JMI launches Covid-19 resistant KN-95 masks

JMI Hospital Requisite Manufacturing Ltd, one of the leading companies in the field of medical equipment manufacturing, on Monday launched the KN-95 mask, which is resistant to coronavirus.

The marketing of the mask started with a ceremony at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan MP was the chief guest on the occasion.

Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Director General Abul Bashar Mohammed Khurshid Alam was a special guest along with Swadhinata Chikitshak Parishad (SWACHIP) President M Iqbal Arslan.

JMI Group Chairman Jabed Iqbal Pathan delivered the welcome address. He said that during the Covid-19 pandemic, covid tests of about 10,000 police personnel were done in the testing machine of the lab of DNA Solutions, a subsidiary of JMI Group.

"In this lab, a number of researchers and educators are doing the genome sequencing of coronavirus, who have already identified important information about the nature of the virus," added Pathan. 

Abdur Razzak, managing director of JMI Group, said the mask has five levels of protection, out of which there are three levels of state-of-the-art filter paper.

At the end of the experimental production, the quality and qualification of the mask have been tested in laboratories at home and abroad.

"At present, the imported Chinese KN-95 mask is being sold in the country's market at around Tk 300. The same quality mask will be sold for Tk100  by JMI Hospital Requisite Manufacturing Limited," said Razzak.

Masks such as Covid-19 Resistant N-95, KN-95 or FFP-2 are produced in the United States, China, Japan, South Korea and some European countries. 

As there is no standard for the production of these masks in Bangladesh, JMI - with almost a year of research and development- has produced KN-95 quality masks in the country in compliance with the Chinese policy.