The Ministry of Health has repeatedly encouraged the need for regular handwashing with running water. Matsapha Town Council has managed to strategically install water tanks at high activity zones to ensure handwashing. The water tanks installed were donated by the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA).
A total of four (4) 1000 litre tanks were donated on Wednesday, 29th April 2020, all of which have been installed at Matsapha Correctional Services, Shoprite along King Sobhuza the II Avenue, Pick n’ Pay Mahhala and OBC along 1st Street. The installation of the four 1000 litre tanks was an addition to the five (5) 200 litre tanks that were donated and installed in April. The sites that were identified as high-risk zones and had water tanks installed include AHF Clinic, Pick n’ Pay Mashayitafula, Mahhala, Rochi, and Esigodvweni Police Station and Matsapha Police Post (located at Mahhala). Council has also provided soap at all these points, which is regularly refilled.
The sites where the tanks have been provided are places where the public cannot avoid surface contact, such as the shopping trolleys and touching money which are surfaces that are considered to likely carry the Coronavirus. Council encourages the public out to access essential services and the essential services workers to utilize the provided resources as they are there to help protect them. Some hand washing reminders should be followed for adequate hygiene, these include:
- Wash hands with soap and running water as often as possible. This could also mean washing hands before going into the shop and after to ensure maximum protection.
- Lather hands with soap by rubbing them together, at the back of your hands, between fingers, under nails and around your wrists. Scrub for at least 20- 30 seconds.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can be effectively used after handwashing and/or used if there is no immediate access to soap and water.
