Handwashing With a Water-Efficient Tap and Low-Cost Foaming Soap: The Povu Poa "Cool Foam" System in Kenya

Jaynie Whinnery; Gauthami Penakalapati; Rachel Steinacher; Noel Wilson; Clair Null; Amy J Pickering

doi:10.9745/GHSP-D-16-00022

Handwashing With a Water-Efficient Tap and Low-Cost Foaming Soap: The Povu Poa "Cool Foam" System in Kenya

Glob Health Sci Pract. 2016 Jun 27;4(2):336-41. doi: 10.9745/GHSP-D-16-00022. Print 2016 Jun 20.

Authors

Jaynie Whinnery¹, Gauthami Penakalapati¹, Rachel Steinacher¹, Noel Wilson², Clair Null¹, Amy J Pickering³

Affiliations

¹ Innovations for Poverty Action, Kenya, Kisumu, Kenya.
² Catapult Design, San Francisco, CA, USA.
³ Stanford University, Stanford Center for Innovation in Global Health, Stanford, CA, USA.

Abstract

The new handwashing system, designed with end user input, features an economical foaming soap dispenser and a hygienic, water-efficient tap for use in household and institutional settings that lack reliable access to piped water. Cost of the soap and water needed for use is less than US$0.10 per 100 handwash uses, compared with US$0.20–$0.44 for conventional handwashing stations used in Kenya.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Female
Hand Disinfection / methods*
Health Behavior
Humans
Kenya
Male
Residence Characteristics
Rural Health*
Soaps / therapeutic use*
Water
Water Supply / methods*

Substances

Soaps
Water