USAID Isuku Iwacu launches handwashing station at Nyabugogo main taxi park to curb transmission of COVID-19
Today USAID Isuku Iwacu launched a handwashing station at Nyabugogo main taxi park in Nyarugenge district.
The handwashing station is one of the eight stations that have been built across the eight districts where the project works with an aim of mitigating the spread of COVID-19 which was first reported in the country in March 2020.
Speaking at the launch event, the Chief of Party of USAID Isuku Iwacu, Juste Kayihura noted that construction of the handwashing station at Nyabugogo main taxi park is part of the continuous support from USAID through Isuku Iwacu project to fight #COVID-19.
“This handwashing facility has 12 censor taps which are spaced according to the recommended social distancing measures. One can easily wash hands without contact with another person. We believe that this will help curb transmission of COVID19,” Kayihura said.
As part of the response efforts for the outbreak of the corona virus (COVID-19) in Rwanda, the population has been called upon to adopt a culture of regular handwashing, wearing face masks in public and practicing social distancing.
The Deputy District Executive Administrator of Nyarugenge district, Esperance Nshutiraguma thanked USAID Isuku Iwacu for the continuous support they give to our district including supporting households to acquire improved latrines and constructing public latrines.
“Fighting covid requires regular handwashing, wearing masks in public and social distancing. USAID Isuku Iwacu has supported us to promote handwashing practices among our people and we are grateful,” Esperance Nshutiraguma added.
The virus was announced in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and later declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020. Since then, the number of confirmed cases continues to rise.
Due to COVID-19, Rwanda put in place a preparedness and response plan to control transmission and manage cases. All institutions and partners came on board to support the country’s response efforts among them, prevention measures that include social distancing, proper hand washing and use of personal protective equipment among others.
According to WHO, community members can play a critical role in fighting COVID-19 by adopting frequent hand hygiene as part of their day-to-day practices.
USAID Isuku Iwacu’s initiative is also in line with WHO’s recommendation that all member states make hand hygiene facilities in front of public and private commercial buildings as well as at all transport hubs obligatory.
Construction work for the handwashing stations completed on May 25, 2020 in all the eight districts.
The stations have been strategically located in public places such as district offices where they serve close to 500 people per day, at public taxi parks where they serve about 2000 people a day and at market places which attract over 2000 people a day.
USAID Isuku Iwacu is a 4-year Activity that was awarded in 2016 to improve sanitation of one million Rwandans in eight targeted districts to live in open defecation-free (ODF) environments. The activity implemented by SNV, Water for People and World Vision.
The project aims to help over 500,000 Rwandans gain access to improved household sanitation. Among the other activities, USAID Isuku Iwacu has also supported households in the eight districts to improve sanitation by constructing and improving latrine facilities.
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