By
Gideon D. Ebbah, GNA
Amasaman (Ash), Oct
18, GNA – A new locally-invented hand washing device, which uses a foot pedal to
dispense water onto the hands during hand washing, has been launched to ensure
a more hygienic way of hand washing in the country.
The novelty device,
described widely as an improvement over already-existing devices, which
technology gives the user no option than to use the same hands to turn on and
off the tap during hand washing.
The washed hands get
re-contaminated as it is used to turn off the faucet after the hand washing
process.
This is where the
new technology named Techytap, becomes a big boost in hygienic hand- washing,
as it addresses this challenge of touching the tap with the hands.
The new technology,
is designed, invented and branded by Mr. Julius Kwami Tsatsu, the Executive
Director of the Community Alliance Foundation (CAF), a social Enterprise and
Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), focused on the promotion of a holistic
approach to sanitation.
Launching prototypes
at Amasaman in the Ga West Municipality, Mr Tsatsu, said his outfit located at
Kwabenya in the Greater Accra Region, is targeting stakeholders like health
facilities, corporate institutions, schools, hotels and scientific research
institutions among others for the sale of the device.
The launching made
to coincide with the commemoration of this year’s global hand washing day, saw
CAF donating ten of the Teckytaps to be shared among the Amasaman Government
Hospital, the Ga West Municipal Assembly, the Health Directorate and seven
basic schools in the Municipality.
The beneficiary
basic schools include; the Amasaman M/A Basic, Okyekomfo M/A Basic, Kojo Ashong
Basic and Pobi Kofe Basic schools.
The donations were
made possible through the sales of 220 sets of the Teckytaps to the World
Vision and Plan International Ghana.
Referring to current
researches to buttress the need for a more hygienic hand washing procedures,
the inventor pointed to a study conducted by ‘All Portable Sinks – A Brentpoint
Company in Florida, USA, which indicates that most bacteria on our hands is on
the fingertips and under the nails.
According to the
study, he said, the enormity of bacteria on the human finger tips doubles after
using the bathroom, the same research also shows that, failure to wash hands
correctly contributes to nearly 50 percent of all foodborne illness outbreaks,
he noted.
“Infections and
reinfections technically known as cross-contamination occur leading to
increased reports of sanitation-related illnesses among children and their
families,” he quoted from the research.
Mr. Cyril Elorm
Adajawah, the Business Development and Corporate Affairs Manager at CAF, said
his outfit as a Social Enterprise, seek to maximize Social Return on Investment
(SROI), thus returns made from the sale of each of the Teckytap, would be used
to promote comprehensive social enhancement and sanitation projects in the
communities where they serve. “Teckytap will be used in the implementation of
our comprehensively-designed Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Schools
project and the some selected schools in the Ga West Municipality, would be
used to pilot the project,” he noted.
Mr Adajawa added
that three key areas to be addressed under the WASH in Schools Project are;
Menstrual Hygiene Management, which would focus on demystifying menses and
increasing access to affordable sanitary pads.
Solid Waste
Management with a focus on waste segregation and ending open defecation, as
well as Hand Washing promotion, centred on behavioural change, among others.
Nii Charles Quaye,
Chief Linguist of the Amasaman Traditional Area, commended the Foundation for
the gesture and initiative and pledged his traditional council’s readiness to
support the course of correct handwashing in the homes and workplaces within
the area. The event brought together Chiefs and Elders of the Amasaman
Traditional Area, Local Government Officials of the Ga West Municipal Assembly
and the Municipal Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES) and Ghana
Health Service, World Vision International-Ghana, Plan International-Ghana,
among others.
GNA
