SODIS Pilot Project, i4Life- Neri Clinic, Linda Compound, Lusaka, Zambia

i4Life- SODIS Pilot Project

Over 1.2 million children, most being less than five years old, die due to diarrhoea related diseases each year.

“Pathogenic enteric bacteria are a major cause of drinking water related morbidity and mortality in the developing world. (WHO, 2008)

What is SODIS?

• SODIS means SOlar DISinfection
• SODIS is a technique for making microbially polluted water safe to drink.
• SODIS is a simple and inexpensive method with which households can disinfect their drinking water.
• The WHO, UNICEF and the Red Cross recommend it.

SODIS Method

How SODIS Works

• Use clean undamaged 1-2 litres PET bottles
• Fill the bottle ¾ full with water
• Shake for 20 seconds to oxygenate the water
• Finish filling the bottle and close the cap
• Place the bottle on a black iron sheet or put them on the roof
• Place the bottles flat facing the sun for at least 6 hours (or two days under very cloudy conditions)
• Leave the bottle to cool overnight. Drink directly from the bottle or from clean cups.
• Have two bottles per child. Swap the bottles, one in the sun and the other in use

NOTE: SODIS Water is not suitable for children under 18 months. Please Boil the water.

The aim of the project is to improve the quality of drinking water against a range of waterborne diarrhoeal diseases at household level.

The climate and weather conditions are suited for SODIS in the Lusaka region

Plastic PET (Poly Ethylene Terephthalate) bottles of 2 litre volume will be used. PET is preferred to PVC, because PVC can contain harmful additives and to glass, because glass blocks out some of the UV rays.

Each family will be assigned two bottles per child on the Nutrition Programme – one for the day’s consumption and one exposed to the sun.

Purpose of trip: To train community health workers (CHW), as well as members of the Neri Clinic, in how to best promote the SODIS-method and basic hygiene, such as hand washing, among the local population.

Presentation  given to  CHW’s and other members of the Neri Clinic on the SODIS method. ( See Attached)

The project will start with 10 families who are either on the nutrition  programme  or attend the Under 5’s clinic and who have ongoing or current diarrhoea related illnesses. These families will be trained in the SODIS method. The project will increase in size, as and when children present with diarrhoea related illnesses at the nutrition or under 5’s clinics.

The area Environmental Health Technician (EHT) was contacted. She was happy for the project to go ahead and agreed to test the water supply at source and household level of the 10 families selected.

Eithna Lowe  Engineer, i4Life Volunteer demonstrating Sodis tecnique to CHWs and Neri clinic Health professionals

Harriet Chongo, i4Life CHW,

Education of Mothers on SODIS Project

Mothers and their infants at education session by CHWs

Thandiwe Piri, i4life/Neri clinic Nutritionist

preparation for SODIS education with mothers