While the public health benefits of handwashing are well known, soap is an unaffordable luxury in some developing countries. Researchers have now developed a disposable, biodegradable soap that shows great promise in improving public health in areas without access to running water.Revolution in hand washing
Hand washing with soap has always been a simple and highly effective way to prevent the spread of many infectious diseases. While soap and water doesn’t kill germs, it does remove them from your hands. However, access to soap and water is extremely limited in developing countries such as Tanzania. According to a study conducted in a typical small town in 2020, only 13 percent of households have the opportunity to wash their hands. In 2016, only 7 percent of households nationwide had access to soap and water to wash their hands.
The researchers, who selected Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam and Morogoro regions as the pilot regions, tested a new handwashing technology they call “Tab Soap”. This tablet-shaped product consists of soap-impregnated biodegradable bamboo-based materials. When the tablet is used, it can be thrown into the toilets, garbage or soil and rot there. Tablets can also be presented in rolls or tear-off form.164270
While the study was small, researchers see potential in new handwashing technologies. Tablet soap, which is as effective as liquid soap in terms of cost, is seen as the most ideal solution for hand washing purposes. Since it is disposable, there is less cross contamination concern. It is also difficult to misuse the product as it is designed for hand washing only. Also, because the bamboo-based substrate stays wet, it probably uses less water than other forms of hand washing.
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