‘Necessity’, it is said, ‘is the mother of invention’.

This is apt in wake of Covid-19, as the young and old find ways to address price hikes in protective materials.

For rural dwellers, such materials are a luxury.

Thankfully, a 13-year-old Junior High School pupil at Ejura in the Ashanti Region, is providing relief, using printed wax design with Kente to produce nose masks.

Hamisu Yussif's innovation made of local fabric is reusable that is fitted with a kente and printed wax.

It is made from just one-sixth standard material with straps that fit over a user's face, which covers both nose and mouth.

“It has some amount of airtight which allows user to breathe in and out. Users can always wash it in warm water or with approved disinfectants. It provides more safety with less material and is more endurable in the long term," Hamisu said.

Hamisu is a pupil at Ejura Model Junior High School. Besides schooling, he has learnt how to sew by himself.

Nobody taught him; he observes and monitors how it is done in a shop near his family house.

About a week ago, the uncle approached him with a YouTube video and asked if he could do same. Hamisu answered in affirmative and that was how the idea came to bear.

With his uncle supplying him with the material, it takes at least 15 minutes for the young chap to make one nose mask, and in a day, he produces over 20 pieces.

He aspires to be a scientist someday, a reason he says inspired him to design the local nose masks.

He is of the view that his effort will help reduce the burden on the frontline workers as they fight and contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus in the country.

Speaking to a medical doctor, Mensah Manye, he said: "This is brilliant. I think he needs to be encouraged to do more."

Dr Manye, who practices at Ejura Government Hospital, noted that the masks could help save several lives especially the vulnerable who can't afford to continuously buy them in times like this.

Hamisu, in his little quest to save lives during the pandemic, wants to produce more than he does now to supply to surrounding communities in Ejura.