Creating Business Opportunities, Students in Malang Make Anti-Covid-19 Masks for the Deaf

IDXChannel – The use of masks at this time is one of the things that is required to anticipate transmission Covid-19. However, the problem of using masks is an obstacle for the deaf in communicating.

From there, three students from the University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM), namely Habibah Alifatus Syaidah, Aulia Amanda, Briliant Ghaustin Yoly Ala, and Annisa Firdaus Ramadhin, made a breakthrough in making transparent anti-Covid-19 masks that were friendly to people with disabilities, especially the deaf.

A member of the Habibah Latifus Syaidah team explained that this see-through cloth mask consists of two layers of masks. The first outer layer looks like an ordinary mask containing a filter filter.
The filter is required to be replaced every three days.

“While the second layer inside is a transparent mask. So people can see the expressions and lip movements of the deaf and make it easier to communicate,” Habibah said confirmed by MNC Portal Indonesia, Monday afternoon (26/7/2021).

The basic material is also claimed to be environmentally friendly considering that the mask strap or mask strap is made from waste straws that have been cleaned. The choice of this material, called Habibah, can reduce plastic waste.

“This is one of our joint efforts to continue to protect the environment and reduce the use of plastic waste,” he said.

Now the uniqueness of this mask makes this product can be developed for business potential and mass produced. In fact, this uniqueness also made him qualify for the Entrepreneurship Category Student Creativity Program (PKM) held by the Directorate General of Higher Education (Dikti).

Currently creating process mask making and will be marketed online next week. The price of the mask is set at Rp. 35,000-Rp. 40,000, this price also includes a mask, three filters and a mask strap.

“We will start the marketing process online next week. In our opinion, this price is quite affordable considering that buyers can get a complete package of masks,” he explained.

Finally, the Kediri-born student hopes that this transparent mask can be an option to help the deaf communicate in the midst of a pandemic. He also wants this business to be a new business opportunity.

“Communication is one of the important aspects of life. So with our innovation, hopefully it can provide broad benefits to the community, especially those who are deaf,” he concluded. (NDA)

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