By Alie Eleveld | Founder SWAP and Technical Advisor
Introduction
Safe Water and AIDS Project (SWAP) has been operating in Western Kenya since 2005 with public health programs, research and emergency response. SWAP's mission is to provide innovative solutions for improved health and economic status of communities.
Production of Liquid Soap
Liquid soap is on high demand in the communities we serve. SWAP received Kenya Bureau of Standard approval for the production and distribution for a period of two years. Internal and external control is done by submitting samples for quality control and subjecting it to several tests to meet the desired standards. Production is ongoing, after which labeling is done and it is taken to the central store for safe storage. In the last quarter 505 liters of Liquid Soap was produced.
Distribution and Sales of Liquid Soap
The liquid soap is on high demand and sold and promoted through various channels. We have costumers who walk in our offices to buy, we sell to health stakeholders and partners who distribute during flood and disease outbreaks. We promote and sell during exhibitions and at local markets. We have contributed to the distribution of free liquid soap to close to 50 health care facilities. Liquid soap has not only been used for hand washing but also for general cleaning. SWAP has done a lot of training on hygiene promotion, hand hygiene and social behavioral change communication at various forums. Hand Hygiene posters have also been developed and distributed at health care facilities, schools and community hot spots. SWAP during data collection of research often also provides liquid soap as incentive for the study participants. Hand hygiene is key and essential to prevent infections.
Social Marketing of Liquid Soap
Liquid soap is sold by Community Health Promoters who are trained by the Ministry of Health on Primary Health Care and are assigned households. They do social marketing of life saving health products among them liquid soap. The community health volunteers are mostly women and from poor backgrounds. Through this sustainable distribution model they improve health of their families and the communities they serve and generate income. They have been involved in village savings and loans and with the loans they invest in procuring more health products at wholesale price which they sell at retail prices. They are recognized by the local leadership and have become useful members of society and self-reliant.
Adopt a School
Adopt a School Initiative started during the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools were opened and given COVID 19 rules and regulations, but many were lacking the resources and infrastructure. SWAP adopted 5 schools and supported with WASH infrastructure such as water tanks, hand washing stations, liquid soap, sanitary pads, deworming tablets, vaccination outreaches, construction of a kitchen and food supplies, a mathematical resource center among others. One of these schools is Ombaka Primary School, which used to be an evacuation center during the flood and the communities lost shelter, crops and livestock and are very vulnerable. A lot of focus has been on hygiene promotion and hand hygiene therefore monthly supplies of liquid soap are issued together with hand washing stations to prevent disease outbreaks. There has been ongoing mentorship and training sessions for the school health club on hand washing. Children are given responsibility to ensure the hand washing stations are filled with treated water and soap is placed next to them.
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