County set to ban use of bar soaps in hotels

Plans are underway to ban the use of bar soaps to wash hands in restaurants in Trans Nzoia County.

This is after health officials in the region maintained that they pose a health risk to those who use them since bacteria often remain on the surface of soap and when used by another person, they may be transferred easily.

Research indicates that bacteria can cause several infections which may have dire consequences.

Most nyama choma joints use bar soap that is usually placed on sinks and Trans Nzoia intends to do away with such.

The County Public Health Officer Norbert Musundi said that the department is preparing a communication that will be released to ban the use of the detergent.

Those who cannot afford the liquid soap were advised to use ash, which is germicidal, acting just like soap.

Musundi added that they are working with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) through its Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) program to improve sanitation facilities.

Most restaurants in urban areas have already switched to using liquid soap although they are not a hundred percent safe either.

Bacteria in the nozzles of such can still be spread thus health officials have stressed the importance of observing cleanliness at all times.