Hand washing ambassador

Olivia Otieno educates people on the importance of maintaining hygiene through hand washing. She tells Michael Oriedo what her new role involves

What does your job as a sales and marketing manager at Tribe Hotel entail?

I increase awareness about the hotel, its products and occupancy. I also have to make people understand our philosophy, which is ‘One Planet, One Tribe.’ It sounds an easy task, but it is demanding. You have to give it your whole.

You were a successful radio and TV personality, why did you change to sales and marketing?

I was approaching 30’s and I decided it was time for me to change my career path. I had been in the media for over ten years and I had achieved a goal I had set, this was to create, produce and host a television show. I had given myself five years to do so, but it took me two years.

How was your experience in radio and TV?

I thoroughly enjoyed myself although I feel that our television industry has a long way to go in terms of programming. For radio, I can confidently say we can effectively compete with other countries across the world.

How did the experience in the media prepare you for your current job and nomination as hand-washing ambassador for UN-Habitat and African Population and Health Research Centre?

I feel that being a media personality gave me a lot of confidence. For instance, I was able to approach figures in authority and question them on pertinent issues affecting our society. As a media personality, people also give you a lot of goodwill especially when you are passionate about issues that affect the society.

Why is hand washing important?

It is imperative for hygiene. Washing hands, particularly for children, helps prevent diseases and consequently mortality because hands are the primary carrier of many disease-causing germs.

In Samburu for instance, it was observed that people were becoming blind because they were not washing hands. It was realised that by touching their eyes with dirty hands, they spread eye diseases.

If widely embraced, hand washing with soap can help prevent diarrhoea, respiratory and many other infections. It is an effective intervention to reduce morbidity and mortality, particularly among children.

What does your work involve as the hand-washing ambassador?

I educate children and adults mainly from poor communities in Nairobi about the importance of washing hands and maintaining hygiene. Many of them are prone to diseases because access to water and soap is a challenge, but despite the minimal resources, they can still maintain hygiene and keep diseases at bay.

I also teach and encourage women to learn how to make liquid soap. While this enhances hand washing, it is also a source of income since the women sell the soap.

Washing hands is about making people change their attitude, how do you sell the idea to people?

I talk about the benefits of maintaining good hygiene to prevent diseases. Once people know the gains, it becomes easy to convince them to wash hands. For instance in organisations, some of the benefits of washing hands are increased productivity, fewer sick days and reduced medical costs.

Any challenges you experience?

Data from the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation show that nine out of ten Kenyans do not wash their hands especially before handling food and after visiting the toilet, but this has not changed people’s attitude.

My biggest challenge is to make hand washing with soap a habit in people’s daily routine and as an accepted norm.

How do you balance between the two jobs?

Both jobs are demanding. My work as an ambassador involves going to public functions and demonstrating to people how to clean their hands. However, this is occasional, so it allows me to concentrate on my duties at Tribe.

Your parting shot?

Hygiene is very important. We have to observe necessary health precautions if we are to curb diseases. For instance, when you have a cold or there is a flu going around, it is just common sense and good hygiene that you wash your hands often to avoid passing on or contracting the disease.