For most of us in Canada, washing our hands is almost an instinctual habit.
We wash our hands when coming in from a day out and about in the city; we wash our hands before preparing food; we wash our hands if they feel sticky, look dirty, or if we’ve just sneezed. And, perhaps most significantly, we wash our hands after using the toilet.
All this washing prevents the spread of germs and bacteria, and helps keep us healthy. But what if we didn’t have indoor plumbing? How could we wash our hands without running water?
In Sasiga, Ethiopia, they used to have this exact dilemma. But they’ve since improvised a clever replacement for the average bathroom sink. They've rigged a jerrycan with a faucet connection to provide easy access to water for hand-washing outside various latrine locations. Clean water goes in the top - clean water comes out of the spout.
Combined with health education, this tool is proving effective in helping Ethiopians develop the hand-washing habit that can spare them from many unwanted illnesses.
We wash our hands when coming in from a day out and about in the city; we wash our hands before preparing food; we wash our hands if they feel sticky, look dirty, or if we’ve just sneezed. And, perhaps most significantly, we wash our hands after using the toilet.
All this washing prevents the spread of germs and bacteria, and helps keep us healthy. But what if we didn’t have indoor plumbing? How could we wash our hands without running water?
In Sasiga, Ethiopia, they used to have this exact dilemma. But they’ve since improvised a clever replacement for the average bathroom sink. They've rigged a jerrycan with a faucet connection to provide easy access to water for hand-washing outside various latrine locations. Clean water goes in the top - clean water comes out of the spout.
Combined with health education, this tool is proving effective in helping Ethiopians develop the hand-washing habit that can spare them from many unwanted illnesses.