Hydraulic ram pumps and Sling Pumps

Some key objectives for hygiene promotion programmes - IRC International Water and Sanitation Centreespecially important groups. Handwashing is best done with soap andenough water for rinsing. However, if soap is not available oraffordable, ashes, clean mud or local plants are also possible. If nothingbetter is available, firm rubbing and rinsing under a flow is the bestalternative. For a poll on a recent partnership between the public healthsector and the private sector (soap manufacturers) to promotehandwashing with soap.Use of safe water sourcesThe scope and seriousness of health risks influences the need forcampaigns on safe water uses. The (almost) eradication of guineaworm in Rajasthan, India and in West African countries is an exampleof effective programmes. It could be achieved by combining (1)protection of water sources, (2) massive education campaigns thatcombined mass approaches with interpersonal contacts, (3) treatmentand (4) incidence monitoring (UNICEF, 1999).A recent application is the promotion of safe water source use inarsenic contamination areas. The programme tests the water of eachhandpump, paints pumps with safe water green and with contaminatedwater red and encourages users to use only green pumps for drinkingwater. This is harder than it seems because green pumps may be at agreater distance, in another neighbourhood and/or belong to anotherhousehold or households. Sharing is further complicated by greatercrowding, longer waiting, more wear and tear and more frequentbreakdowns, and differences in class and castes.Frequently washing of children's eyesSkin and eye infections are especially common in arid areas. Both havehealth as well as socio-economic consequences. Washing more oftencan greatly reduce their spread. A restricting factor is that where wateris scarce, using it frugally is a value, a norm and a habit. Youngmothers who start washing their children's faces more often risk to becriticised by mothers-in-law, other women and husbands for 'wasting'water. A trachoma prevention programme in Tanzania used children'sface washing competitions for mothers, mothers-in-laws and fathers tolearn through practice that much less water was needed than thought.With one litre of water, mothers managed to wash 30-35 faces ofchildren, fathers 12 (McCauley et al., 1990, 1992).Social marketing for handwashing in Central Americahttp://www.irc.nl/page/3395 (2 of 3) [1/13/2005 12:50:36 PM]