COVID19: Thanks to UNICEF for 'tippy tap'

One of the good lessons from the occurrence of COVID 19, is handwashing with soap under running water.

It has become a custom now for all, children inclusive, with handwashing stations littering the country.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says, regular hand washing is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs and other bacteria to others.

It is said that a clean hand is a caring hand and people are admonished to regularly wash hands under running water with soap.

Running water is recommended instead of basins of standing water that could become contaminated through use.

Experts say, when the hands are washed with soap under running water, it could remove substantially, disease causing organisms.

This appears simple but creating a handwashing station is quite expensive.

One needs not less than GH¢ 80.00 to have a handwashing station with Veronica Bucket, its stand and other items.

The joy, however, is the introduction of ‘Tippy Tap’ by UNICEF to pupils and schools.

‘Tippy Tap’, according to Technology Exchange Lab, ‘techxlab,’ is a hands-free device for handwashing, designed for rural areas, where there is no running water.

It is operated by a foot lever and reduces transmission of pathogens, as the user only touches a bar of soap suspended by a string.

It is normally made with local materials-sticks, strings, container and soap, hence, virtually comes at no cost.

Adequate handwashing with Tippy Tap, is said to require 40 millilitres of water, compared to an average of 500 millilitres, when cup or a mug is used.

The concept has gone down well with pupils and schools, with 'tippy taps' becoming the first to see item in houses and communities in the Volta Region.

I find this refreshing, given that not many households can afford a Veronica hand washing station.

At Adaklu Kodzobi in the Adaklu District of the Volta Region, the chief is said to have instructed community members and households to have 'Tippy Taps' or a handwashing facility at the entrance of homes.

'Interestingly,' many houses went for 'Tippy Taps' done by pupils. It has become the craze for children to try their hands on the craft with many enjoying the habit of handwashing.

A trip to the southern part of Volta Region, exposed me to a good spectacle, 'Tippy Taps' lining the streets and vantage points, such as entrances to homes, toilets and kitchens, following aggressive handwashing education, to contain COVID 19 in the country.

That emerging culture is not different in Oti Region, where some houses have more than one 'Tippy Tap' - some near latrines, kitchens and frontages.

The GNA was told the first point of call for many children is the 'Tippy Tap' handwashing station - an interesting attraction.

The GNA discovered that some children have become checks on their peers, regularly reminding them to use the 'Tippy Tap' to wash their hands.

The concept has attracted the poor, middle class and the rich. I was therefore not surprised a 'Tippy Tap' greeted me, when I visited my pastor’s residence at Ho Housing.

Cursory observations show that, 'Tippy Taps', have made hand washing the craze for many, especially children, with girls and women leading the chart in regular hand washing.

Perhaps what is left is education on proper ways of washing hands. It appears many just get the soap into the palm, open the tap and rub the hands un-purposefully.

According experts, to wash hands properly, you need to wet the hands with clean running water, apply soap to lather for 20 seconds, and rub hands together rapidly across all surfaces of the hands and wrists, back of the hands, between fingers and under fingernails.

You then rinse well under running water and ensure all traces of soaps are removed before drying hands with clean towel, paper towel, tissues or air drying.

It is fun to wash hands. Let’s enjoy it and make it a habit now and after COVID-19 to stay safe.