Plastic taps save Busia residents from cholera
Sauya Namuwaya, a resident of Buchicha in Sikuda Sub-county refills a handwashing facility at her home last week. PHOTO/DAVID AWORI
What you need to know:
- The plastic taps are normally used in rural areas where there is no running water.
- They are operated by a foot lever and thus reduce the chance for bacteria transmission as the user touches only the soap.
The implementation of regular washing of hands with soap as a measure to contain the spread of Covid-19 has also reduced sanitation-related diseases in Busia District, health authorities say. This is after district authorities with support from World Vision installed tippy taps in 16 sub-counties to help communities follow the health directives.
The taps are normally used in rural areas where there is no running water. They are operated by a foot lever and thus reduce the chance for bacteria transmission as the user touches only the soap.
Mr Dickson Wamaena, the assistant district health officer in charge of environment, on Tuesday reported that between July 2019 to March this year, various health facilities in the district recorded 223 cases of dysentry, 740 typhoid cases and 15 cases of cholera.
But due to intervention of handwashing facilities, between the April and June this year, cases of dysentry reduced to 44, typhoid to 29, while no cholera case has been reported.
“We attribute the drop in the cases at our various health facilities to improved handwashing and proper use of pit-latrines,” he said.
Mr Geoffrey Wandera, the district chairperson, said pit-latrine coverage at household level increased from 78 per cent to 88 per cent during the Covid-19 period.
Ms Winfred Itinoti, a resident of Bubala in Busitema Sub-county, said since she started using the tippy tap at her home, her children no longer suffer from diarrhoea.
“Every month, I had been taking my children to a health facility for treatment against diarrhoea, but since we have been regularly washing our hands for the last four months, none of the children have fallen sick,” Ms Itinoti said.
Training
Ms Sauya Namuwaya, a resident of Buchicha in Sikuda Sub-county, said all families have handwashing facilities because World Vision staff and district officials inspect homes and train families on how to install and use the taps.
Mr Richard Wangira, a member of the village health team, said families that did not have handwashing facilities would be announced in the village thus discouraging others from visiting them
Mr Wameana said the tippy taps are, however, being vandalised by plastic dealers in Busia town, Dabani Sub-county and areas of Masafu.
