Field Report and Photos by Muasa Mwololo, Elephants and Bees Project 

Handwashing is one of the core measures proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to help combat the spread of Covid-19. Hand hygiene is one of the most effective actions  to reduce the spread of pathogens and prevent infections, and regular hand-washing with soap and water, or using an alcohol-based sanitiser have proven to help curb the transmission of the coronavirus.

The virus spreads through mostly droplet and contact transmission. Contact transmission means by touching infected people and/or contaminated objects or surfaces. Thus, your hands can spread the virus to other surfaces and/or to your mouth, nose or eyes if you touch them. Community members can play a critical role in fighting COVID-19 by adopting frequent hand hygiene as part of their day-to-day practices.

With the onset of the dry season in Sagalla, the much-needed water for handwashing has become very scarce or not available at all, rendering the Sagalla community at a  high-risk of contacting the infectious disease. It is due to this situation that Save the Elephants and our friends at the Glassybaby White Light Fund have supported the community with funding and installing 5 large handwashing tanks, each with a capacity of 1000 litres, to help boost availability of clean water and sanitation services.

Each of the tanks have been fitted with two taps that can be turned on with an elbow, filled with clean water supplied by bowsers from Voi, and provided with handwashing soaps. They have been installed in key locations within four villages in Sagalla, namely: Kirumbi, Mwakoma, Mwambiti and Kajire. These tanks will be re-filled with clean water every two weeks to provide ongoing health support during this time of crisis.

Community leaders have actively engaged in this project and have welcomed the water tanks, terming it a big boost in the fight against the spread of Covid-19 within the Sagalla community.

Sanitise. Stay Safe.

Let’s stop the spread of Corona Virus.

Thanks to our friends at the Glassybaby White Light Fund for help with supporting this project.