Regardless, we do tend to wash our hands after using the bathroom. It's almost impossible to forget when you have a sink to serve as a constant visual reminder. You also have all the necessary materials on hand: the soap, the running water, and the towels. We've integrated hand washing into a sequence of actions: use the bathroom, flush, wash your hands, check your reflection in the mirror. We've come to crave the feel of cool water, the sweet smell of soap, and the tight skin we associate with cleanliness.
My first introduction to life in Senegal involved a latrine slab and a squatting demonstration. Turns out that using the bathroom here is a whole different game. Toilet paper isn't a thing; people use their left hand and water to clean themselves, which is why you always hand to use your right hand to greet and eat. Sinks are rare, even in towns with running water. In general, soap is reserved for laundry and bucket showers.
Enter: the tippy-tap.
My ASC does not record deaths or cause of death in village, but I do know that diarrhea is a huge problem here.
The tippy-tap is awesome for a couple of reasons: it's made out of cheap local materials; it marks a designated location for hand washing; it provides the necessary resources (soap, running water); it serves as a visual reminder. Of course, those reasons aren't enough to guarantee long lasting behavior change, but it's a start.
And so, we got to work:
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| At the French school... |
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| ... and the Arabic school |
And then, we demonstrated proper hand washing techniques:
And finally, smiles all around:
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| The French school team |
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| Guys at a garage trained by my coworker |
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