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UPDATE 10 APRIL 2020
COVID-19 EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAMME
WINDHOEK INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS
COVID-19 poses a special threat to those living in
informal settlements on the edges of cities around the
world. Experts have warned that developing countries
are extremely vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The best ways to prevent infection and the spread of
the virus is social distancing and washing hands with
soap for 20 seconds on a regular basis. In informal
settlements however, this is difficult due to crowded
conditions and the often limited availability of water.
Three weeks ago, Development Workshop Namibia
(DWN) and the Namibian Chamber of Environment
(NCE) launched a programme to help reduce the
vulnerability of informal settlement dwellers around
Windhoek by installing Tippy Taps. The aim of the
programme’s first phase is to set up 20,000 water
saving hand washing units (‘Tippy Taps’) in Windhoek’s
informal settlements, and provide residents with
accurate information on COVID-19 and how to prevent
infection. A Tippy Tap can be used “hands-free” and
makes regular hand washing more feasible for those
who have one installed nearby. The programme is
accredited by the Ministry of Health and Social Services
(MoHSS) and implemented in coordination with the
local Constituency Council offices of Samora Machel,
Moses Garoeb, Tobias Hainyeko, and Khomasdal. These
constituencies encompass the main _— informal
settlements in Windhoek.
As per Thursday the 9* of April, 2,600 tippy taps have
been set up and more than 4,000 flyers on COVID-19
and tippy tap construction have been distributed. The
programme was initiated with two groups working in
the Samora Machel and Moses Garoeb, respectively. On
Tuesday the 7‘ of April, an additional two groups of
volunteers started operating in Tobias Hainyeko and
Khomasdal. Thus four groups of 15 volunteers are now
working in the four target informal settlements.
As each Tippy Tap reaches an average of three
households, the current total of 2,600 taps are
reaching some 7,800 households, an estimated 23,000
residents. Each group installs 100 tippy taps per day, so
collectively the groups install 400 tippy taps per day and
2,000 each week now that all four are operational. All
volunteer groups work with hand held GPS units and
take a position of each tippy tap they build. This helps
to keep track on coverage and facilitates planning. With
support from WWF-Namibia, a web-based GIS
application allows for monitoring the areas and
numbers of installed tippy taps. This web based GIS
application is also shared with Windhoek Municipality
and other partners to facilitate coordination with other
initiatives.
Many residents who have watched the teams build
tippy taps and have received the “how-to” flyers (see
attached in five different languages) have built their
own tippy tap once they have seen how it works. This is
encouraging as regular hand washing can also help
reduce other illnesses, such as diarrhoea and Hepatitis
E.
Plans are currently being developed how to begin
implementing the same programme in other regions.
Multiple interventions are required to ease the burden
of lock down measures and COVID-19 on the urban
poor. DWN and NCE are looking to develop a larger
collaboration and in different regions, with other
important programmes by different government and
non-government actors.
A newly installed Tippy Tap (photo by Jana-Marie Smith)
We greatly appreciate the rapid and essential financial
contributions made by the following institutions:
=" Debmarine-Namdeb Foundation
= FirstRand Foundation
= German Development Corporation (GIZ)
=» B2Gold
= Housing! For Future
= WWE Namibia
SEE THE FOLLOWING PAGE FOR PICTURES ON THE
WORK OF STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS IN THE INFORMAL
SETTLEMENTS.
