A short presentation made for the Girl Guides of Ga. Villingili School, Maldives. Presentation on general hygiene and an introduction to the new sewage system being installed on the island by the American Red Cross tsunami recovery program.
This presentation was developed to give an overview of personal hygiene to about 30 Girl Guides at the Ga. Villingili School, Maldives. We were invited by their teachers as we were doing a Hygiene Promotion Program for the community and a CHAST program for grades 1 to 7 of that school as part of the Waste Water Management System Installation Project of the American Red Cross on Villingili. American Red Cross was in Maldives as part of the Tsunami Recovery Program after the 2004 Asian Tsunami.
The concept of hygiene as a method of preventing disease and preserving health is introduced. Emphasis on hygiene as prevention rather than cure. Touch upon hygiene in the domestic, dental or occupational domain.
Brief introduction of germs as microorganisms that are too small to be seen by the naked eye. Emphasis on germs being everywhere including the air we breathe and food we eat. Germs can be bacteria, virus, parasite or fungus. Not all are unicellular.
Emphasis on useful germs. Another example is the role of microorganisms in the nitrogen cycle in the soil. Highlight that usually it is harmful organisms that are referred to as germs.
So if we are surrounded by germs, why aren’t we always sick? Because the body has natural defenses. Eye has tears, stomach has acid, nostrils have hair, blood has immune system. Skin being the largest organ of the body, has a very important role to play in keeping bacteria out.
Brief history of how Ignaz Semmelweis, while working in a maternity ward, came to the conclusion that germs were being spread from hand to hand and how he is the pioneer advocate of the importance of hand washing.
We sneeze to expel germs that collect in our nostrils and lungs. But this also leads to the spread of germs from person to person. So it is important to cover your sneeze. Best is to cover your nose and mouth. Alternative is to sneeze down into your armpit. If you sneeze onto your bare hand, there is more chance of spreading it onto others. In such a case, always wash your hand properly.
Examples of these methods of germ spread and ways to prevent.
Try to get more examples from the audience.
Research has shown that there are frequently missed sports when washing hands. Emphasis on the thumb and we use the thumb to clean the parts of the hand but often forget to clean the thumb itself. Also we usually miss the tips of the fingers.
The two most important times to wash hands is after using the toilet and before eating.
Should brush teeth as germs can easily live inside our mouths as there is a constant supply of food for them when we eat. Should brush in the morning and before going to bed, minimum. Should brush all surfaces of the mouth. Usually a good brushing takes 2 minutes.
Clarify any questions by the audience.
Second part of the presentation gives a briefing of the advantages, parts and maintenance of the new sewer system installed on the island by the American Red Cross. This slide shows the structure of the traditional system present on the island. Main disadvantage is that the waste water leaks from the household septic tank into the ground water. Also, the outfall pipes drain into the lagoon causing damage to the environment. Both of them pose a health risk to the community.
This is the new system being installed. Explain how the system functions. The household septic tank is constructed from plastic and leakage into the ground is prevented almost 100%. The outfall pipe is extended beyond the lagoon and drains into the deep sea so that impact on the island environment is minimized. Children can go swimming in the lagoon without fear and risk from germs from the waste water.
This is the new Septic Tank. This plastic tank is enclosed in concrete in the ground.
The internal structure of the septic tank. Explain how only effluent water goes out of the tank and the hard matter is retained in the first compartment. When this compartment fills up, it is emptied using a septage bowzer. There are useful bacteria in the first compartment that decomposes the sold sewage which means that the compartment will take a long time to fill up.
The outfall extends beyond the lagoon and drains into the deep sea. Environmental and health benefits.
Benefits of the system
A lot of responsibility of the maintenance of the system rests in the hands of the home owners. If they take care of the system then the system is low cost and trouble free. However if they send things into the septic tanks that are detrimental to it then the tanks might need to be drained more often than necessary. First point is to conserve water as much as possible. Most house holds use water taken from the islands ground water for cooking, washing etc. If the amount drained is too high then it will effect the salinity of the ground water.
Do not drain large amounts of water into the tank at once as this will wash away the useful bacteria in the septic tank.
Do not put inappropriate things into the sewage system. The system is meant only for sewage disposal. It is not a waste disposal system.
Do not drain oils and chemicals into the system as they might effect the useful bacteria in the septic system.
There are antiseptics and other cleaning agents specially made for use in cleaning toilet appliances. These are formulated so that they do not effect the useful bacteria in the septic tank. They can be identified by Septic Tank Friendly logos on their covers.
Under no circumstances should a homeowner open the septic tank and enter it as there might be gasses produced in the tank that are hazardous to our health. In case of malfunction or need for maintenance there will be trained operators with the proper safety equipment who will come and do the work.