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\ Health \ In the field \ Water, sanitation & hygiene \ How a “tippy tap” can save a life
Photo: Max Bastard

How a “tippy tap” can save a life

Health, In the field, Water, sanitation & hygiene article written on the 14 May 2014

What is a “tippy tap”? Well, as you can see in this video, it’s an ingenious device that Oxfam use all over the world to promote hand-washing and good health and hygiene.

It’s a simple construction of three sticks holding up a jerry can. A piece of string and a fourth stick make a foot pedal, “tipping” the jerry can and producing a flow of clean, uncontaminated water.

Add in a bar of soap in an onion bag, and you have a simple but incredibly effective hand-washing station.

Hand-washing with soap has been proven to reduce disease in a community by up to 50%. The “tippy tap” is a key tool in our fight against waterborne diseases and the devastating effect it has on people living in poverty.

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Doris*, daughter, 5; Pamila*, 2. Christina grows maize and she was shown how to make compost as part of the CRAFS (Climate Resilient Agriculture and Food Systems) programme.
 
The Presbyterian Agriculture Station, Garu (PAS-G) is Oxfam's partner in the Upper East Region of Ghana. They're currently implementing CRAFS in a number of communities, including Tambalug (compost making) and Kpatua (solar) 12 and 13 July 2017.
 
Christina said:
 
“With the money, I want to look after my children: their health, their upkeep, that’s what I’ll be spending the money on. I’ll also invest some money on the farm this year. [Farming] It’s hard work [ she giggles] but if you get a good harvest it’s very nice. The only thing is, if you work hard and don’t get a good harvest then it’s not good. [Harvest] is my favourite time when you see the crops are ripe, it’s good. It’s [the only time] that she knows that what she has put in, she’ll get something out of it.”
 
“I’m 23, I have 2 children, they are 2 and 5, a boy and a girl. I want them to go to school, to do well in school and get good jobs and live well. I dropped out of school and got married, I want my children to do better. With hindsight, I should have stayed at school. Now, I think I’m not gainfully employed and I could have done better. So I want my children to maximise opportunities and be better off.”
 
“Poverty is when one is helpless. Poverty is when one doesn’t have enough food and you don’t have money to buy the food. Poverty is when you don’t have something to cover yourself. You don’t have the means to get what you want, to lead a normal">

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