The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) in Free State partnered with United Nations Children’s Fund embarked on a campaign at taxi ranks to influence commuters in ways to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus.
This campaign was taken to taxi ranks in Botshabelo, Thaba Nchu, and QwaQwa where Eazi-wash Communal Hand Wash stations and water tanks are strategically placed. These are supplemented with a liquid soap dispenser as well as a soft-touch water release system for community members to utilise before they embark on a journey.
The Eazi-wash station structures are placed at Bloemfontein long-distance taxi rank, Peet Avenue taxi rank, Thaba Nchu Central and taxi rank, Botshabelo taxi rank, Maluti Crescent Taxi Rank, Itshokolele taxi rank and Setsing shopping centre.
At a time when the Covid-19 confirmed positive cases are rising rapidly, the partnership between these two organisations is intended to educate community members of hygienic practices that have been confirmed by the World Health Organisation to flatten the curve of this novel virus.
DWS has been at the centre of efforts to fight this pandemic because water and sanitation is significant in global efforts.
To date, 1840 water tanks and 137 water delivery trucks have been distributed across Free State to assist communities with hygiene during this period.
With wintertime steadily approaching and dam levels dropping, DWS would like to urge South Africans to continue to use water sparingly and close the tap after washing of hands. Hand sanitizer should be used in instances where water and soap are not readily available and commonly used surfaces should be avoided and cleaned with bleach.
South Africa remains a water-scarce country, therefore water conservation efforts need to be tightened to save the current water that we have.
