To promote good handwashing behaviour, the Water
Research Commission (WRC), in collaboration with the
National Department of Health and the City of Tshwane,
visited Onverwacht Primary School near Cullinan in
Pretoria on Wednesday 18 October, as part of the Global
Handwashing Campaign 2017.
Global Hand Washing Day is a campaign dedicated to
raising awareness of hand washing with soap as a key
approach to disease prevention, and to raising awareness
and mobilising communities, households, hospitals, schools,
and workplaces to wash hands with soap to curb life-
threatening diseases.
The campaign was initiated to reduce mortality rates
related to diarrhoeal diseases by introducing simple
behavioural changes, such as hand washing with soap.
According to research, this can reduce the rate of
diarrhoeal infections by almost 50% and acute respiratory
diseases by up to 25%. When practised by mothers and
birth attendants, it can reduce neonatal mortality rates by
almost 40%.
Handwashing with soap has been proven as the single
most effective way to prevent diarrhoea and other hygiene-
related diseases as automatic behaviour performed in
homes, schools, and communities.
‘Our Hands, Our Future!’
Grade four learners from Onverwacht Primary School
near Cullinan with delegates from the Water Research
Commission, Department of Health, and the City of Tshwane
In 2009, the WRC commissioned a study to develop
a scientific method to assess the effectiveness of
handwashing and hand hygiene behaviours. This research
resulted in the development of a hand hygiene assessment
framework for South Africa. u
Landfill 2017
streams and the importance of adhering to relevant
legislation when conducting risk assessments.
“This year’s conference has been a huge success and we
are thrilled at the interest from delegates in the fascinating
presentations we have heard thus far,” concludes Palm. u
“Communities responding to
a landfill site in their midst
vary from resigned, reluctant,
arms-length tolerance to
hostile rejection.”
Rod Bulman – Phelamanga
Leaders in the waste and environmental management
industries gathered at the Buffelsdraai Regional Landfill
site in KwaZulu Natal for Landfill 2017. Many interesting
presentations and workshops fascinated the delegates, who
were eager to network at the most important landfill event
of the year.
The KwaZulu-Natal Landfill & Waste Treatment Interest
Group (LaWTIG) of the Institute of Waste Management of
Southern Africa (IWMSA) hosted a three-day event which
concluded on Friday 20 October 2017. “This was the first
time that we hosted Landfill at a real landfill site, with much
positive feedback from delegates who thoroughly enjoyed
the live demonstration of landfill equipment,” says Jan
Palm, President of the IWMSA.
Rod Bulman, of Phelamanga, shared from his experience
in conducting public participation meetings before landfill
sites can be established. “Communities responding to a
landfill site in their midst vary from resigned, reluctant,
arms-length tolerance to hostile rejection,” says Bulman.
“Often the ‘not in my backyard’ syndrome is predominant in
a number of waste public participation processes, which is
countered by the ‘if not he re, then where?’ response.”
Alan Bamforth, of ABG, presented a simple, cost-effective
capping solution for rural landfill sites. “Attempts to cap
with a simple layer of polymer film and cover soil have
led to slope failures. One solution is the phytocap or
water balance cap, but this has limited suitable climatic
conditions,” says Bamforth. He presented a development
of the phytocap, the Barrier Drain, which is a barrier layer
and drainage layer in one. This development extends the
scope and technical performance to such an extent that the
phytocap can be considered as a fully competent capping
system.
A presentation on the long-term plans to dispose of
municipal solid waste in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro
were shared by Hillary Zuze and Anton de Wit. Michelle
Muller, of Aurecon spoke about understanding waste
The event took place at a real landfill site, for the first time ever.
Water Sewage & Effluent November/December 2017
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