Livingston based Matugga Distillers is the latest Scottish spirits company to halt the production of its unique range of artisan rums in favour of creating hand sanitiser as the demand from front-line workers and local healthcare providers increases.
Husband and wife team, Jacine and Paul Rutasikwa, have produced their first batch of hand sanitiser in line with the recommended World Health Organisation (WHO) formulation and process, with an extra added ingredient of the ‘heads’ from their rum production.
The couple are donating over 1,000 litres of liquid hand sanitiser to key front-line workers after the launch of a successful Crowdfunder campaign. St John’s Hospital in Livingston, The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, GP surgeries, community nurses, health centres and district nursing teams, nursing homes, children’s residential homes, home care services, Police Scotland front line officers, West Lothian fire stations, Royal Mail Livingston Delivery Office, the West Lothian Health & Social Care Partnership, Royal Bank of Scotland Food Bank Donation Centre – are just some of the beneficiaries who have received the critical supply.
Matugga Distillers Co-founder, Jacine, said: “Finding a novel way to tweak our production line to support our NHS heroes on the front line is the least we can do in such uncertain times. We have been overwhelmed at the response to our Crowdfunder campaign and are incredibly grateful for the generous support which will enable us to help the community’s most vulnerable.
“It has been humbling to see distillers of all sizes from across Scotland come together in a bid to use their facilities and agility to help people fight against coronavirus. Our hearts go out to everyone impacted and we hope that our offering can help to make a difference. “We ask for people not to come to the distillery to collect the hand sanitiser because of social distancing reasons, but we will organise delivery to as many people as we can.”
Jacine and Paul’s six-year-old daughter, Mahya, has also got involved in the family’s efforts and has designed the rainbow-bearing packaging which will be distributed in 5 litre containers.
