Projects

Hand Sanitation Program

Axim has 19 schools for primary and junior secondary students, and many of these schools have hundreds of children in attendance. The schools have very primitive bathrooms (see photo below), and until last year students have had no place to wash their hands. In this region of Ghana, the leading cause of death is malaria, but the second and third causes of death are diarrheal and lower respiratory diseases and these can prevented easily. With little sanitation, diarrheal and lower respiratory diseases are easily passed from person to person, and simple hand washing has the potential to save many lives.

A "Veronica Bucket" consists of a wooden stand, a large bucket of water with a spigot near the bottom, and a wash basin placed below the spigot. This hand-sanitation setup is entirely fabricated and maintained in Axim by local craftsmen. In addition to the wooden stand and bucket, towels and soap are placed at the Veronica Bucket station. Each Veronica Bucket costs about $50.00.

On the advice of an herbalist, Jeanie Birchall made the soap with lavender and peppermint to deter mosquitoes from landing on the skin, further helping to prevent the spread of malaria. On January 3, 2008 forty of these hand washing stations, each with soap and towels, were delivered to seven basic schools and the Western Heritage Home for orphaned children, and a program of proper hand washing demonstrations was put in place by the teachers.

As of April 2009, 15 schools have received their Veronica Buckets (54 buckets in total), with three schools (9 buckets) left to go. That's pretty impressive! Jeanie Birchall, RN and Ghana Together board member says, "When I started this project after our journey to Ghana in 2006 I had no idea what the solution was to getting handwashing in the schools, or how it would be accomplished. I just knew I had to start. And look where we are now! Many thanks go to my friends and their donations and to Mr. John Abugri, Nzema East Environmental Health Officer, who did the resourcing, buying of parts and bringing it all to fruition."