Turkey's Defense Ministry produces 10 million face masks every week amid pandemic

Turkey's National Defense Ministry is manufacturing 10 million protective face masks every week, along with other medical supplies such as ventilators and in the fight against the coronavirus.

Factories and textile firms that operate under the Defense Ministry have mobilized to mass-produce surgical face masks and medical supplies to meet the increasing demands.

"Upon the instructions of Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, we are working around the clock to fulfill our duty in the production of personal protective equipment," Yasin Akdere, the manager of the Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKEK) said.

The MAKSAM Machine and Mask Factory in the capital Ankara is currently producing 6,5 million surgical face masks every single week as the firm doubled its manufacturing capacity.

A total of 210 employees are working in three shifts to provide 24/7 coverage at the company where a wide range of items such as N95 masks, protective goggles, overalls, gloves and disinfectants are being produced in accordance with international standards.

Akdere said besides the masks, they produced 334,825 medical overalls, 33,210 protective glasses, 377,100 surgical gloves, and 41,400 liters of disinfectant.

Stressing the fatal symptoms of the virus such as severe shortness of breath, he said the global pandemic has increased the need for ventilators, resulting in fresh impetus across the globe to research and manufacture the devices.

Akdere added that they produced a prototype for an indigenous ventilator and presented it to the defense minister due to the rising demands.

“We plan to start mass production next month. We have the capacity to produce 500 ventilators every week,” he said.

He went on to say that after meeting domestic demands the ventilators will address the needs of Turkey’s allies.

The virus has spread to 185 countries and regions since emerging in China last December. More than 2.72 million cases have been reported worldwide, with the death toll above 191,200, according to data compiled by the US-based Johns Hopkins University.