I am a WASH and urban development specialist living and working in East Africa. I am attempting to scope out “temporary” solutions to sanitation and waste challenges in large unplanned settlements in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi and am looking to receive feedback/critique/advice. I understand these solutions do not sound politically/technologically correct, but with local resource limitations, I seek to identify low-cost, non-motorised and intuitive methods that can be implemented quickly on the ground.
I am interested in what role a mix of powder soap, sand and ash could play in enabling schools to supply affordable options to their pupils to wash their hands. This is already a common practice in East Africa, but it is unclear what the optimal mix/composition of these three items should be. Does anyone else have recommendations on the optimal composition or an alternative item, that is free/locally sourced that could be mixed?
Dear Mr.Palfreman,
Are there any trees or shrubs, belonging to the Sapindus family, native to East Africa? The pulp from the nuts or berries of these trees can often be used as an effective soap. The use of these is absolutely safe. The saponified liquid is also used as an insecticide in some parts of the world. This could mean double benefits.
Yours sincerely,
Annukka Puotiniemi
Dear Joshua,
A mixture of ash and soap may not produce the lather that is required to clean hands whereas a mixture of sand and soap may act well in removing dirt and probably germs...it has been used in Kenya for cleaning of hands among the mechanics/those who repair motor vehicles specifically to remove oil and grease from their hands. i am not sure about the scientific benefit of the same but you may test its efficacy. Soapy water ( a mixture of powdered soap+ water) is very common in Kenya and has been promoted as an alternative to sustaining soap provision in schools. you can read the following article for more information;
http://www.developmentbookshelf.com/doi/abs/10.3362/1756-3488.2010.035
http://www.ajtmh.org/content/89/4/698.short
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0092571
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