Most people should know the facts: almost 2.6 billion people in the world do not have access to basic sanitation and over 6,000 children die each day from dirty water and poor sanitation. Adequate sanitation, hygiene, and drinking water are essential to keep people healthy. So it’s great to hear via Water Advocates about three innovators taking steps to improve sanitation conditions in Africa.
Toilet Mall
David Kuria, founder of the company Ecotact, builds free-standing bathroom facilities in Kenya. These facilities are compared to malls because they have a place for shoe shines, food vendors, phones, eight toilets, a water kiosk, a baby changing station, and showers.
Above Photo: Iko Toilet in Nairobi. Water Advocates.
Cows to Kilowatts
Dr. Joseph Adelegan, of Nigeria, developed a large bio-recator to convert waste from a 1,000-cow slaughterhouse into bio-gas (energy). This bio-gas is sold at reduced prices to the poor and used for cooking or electricity. Plus his business has prevented the slaughterhouse from dumping cow waste into the nearby river that is also used also for cleaning and bathing.
Above Photo: Large-Scale Bio0gas Facility in Africa. Water Advocates.
The Clean Shop
Trevor Mulaudzi started this business in South Africa after “he found children skipping class and defecating in the open because their school’s toilet was piled with feces.” He and his 300 employees clean up and repair previously unusable toilets. The clean toilets give users a sense of pride about their facilities and encourages them to keep the facilities clean.
Above Photo: Dirty Toilet in South African School. Water Advocates.
Water for the Ages 