Pinoys in Ethiopia develop foot-operated handwashers

FOOT POWER Ethiopians use the Filipino-designed pedal-operated handwashers. —PHOTO COURTESY OF FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN ETHIOPIA

MANILA, Philippines — A team of Filipino engineers and teachers in Ethiopia has developed a handwashing technology to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease in the African country.

Upon the request of Ethiopia’s Federal Technical and Vocational Education and Training Institute and Center for Excellence in Engineering in the capital Addis Ababa, the Filipino team conceptualized a mechanically operated soap and water dispenser that performs even without electricity and can be conveniently placed in crowded places.

“The technology was widely praised in social media that even a few city mayors placed orders and installed the Filipino-designed pedal-powered handwashers in different regional offices,” the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The team developed two prototypes for a pedal-operated handwasher.