Kenya to make largest bar soap

By Felix Olick

An initiative that seeks to make the largest bar soap in the world to promote hand washing has been launched.

This comes amid concerns that more people continue to die from diarrhoea. Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation PS Mark Bor noted that over 97 per cent of households in Kenya have soap, but it is used for other purposes other than hand washing.

"According to a study conducted by the ministry and the World Bank in 2007, only five per cent of Kenyans wash hands consistently with soap," said the PS. The initiative dubbed ‘Sopo Largest Bar Soap’ aims to promote washing of hands with soap from the current five per cent to 30 per cent by December 2012.

The programme is supported by a number of institutions, both public and private, including the Standard Group. Speaking at Afya House in Nairobi yesterday, Bor said the launch is part of events ahead of celebration of the Global Hand Washing Day on Saturday at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru. He said the initiative would provide an opportunity for children to act as champions of hand washing and promote the culture among those who do not customarily wash hands at critical times.

　

Countrywide

"It is anticipated that at the end of this campaign, 30 per cent of Kenyans will be washing hands with soap before taking food and after visiting the toilet," said Bor, adding that 30 per cent of mothers will also be washing hands before and after cleaning a baby. Standard Group Director and Chief Operating Officer Sarvjeet Channa said hands are the highway to transmission and spread of bacteria and viruses that cause diseases.

"In Kenya, diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections are among the leading causes of child mortality, with about 16 per cent attributed to diarrhoea and 20 per cent to pneumonia," said Channa.

He noted that hand washing with soap is the most effective way to prevent such diseases.

He promised that Standard Group through its media would spread the news of hand washing. "The Standard Group undertakes to engage children and communities countrywide in spreading the good news of washing hands with soap using its media – KTN, The Standard Newspaper and Radio Maisha," he said.

Other organisations supporting the initiative include Unicef, PZ Cussons, Signon Freight and National Museums of Kenya.