Sanitation
Nakuru County has set out to provide clean and safe public sanitation facilities by implementing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the cleaning and disinfection of public toilets. The County has trained stakeholders on the SOPs to ensure public toilets meet high standards of hygiene and safety.
County Executive Committee Member for Health Roselyn Mungai, today hosted a team from Washington State University to evaluate the project they have been supporting over that last three months.
She assured the delegation that the initiative has made a positive impact on the public with services provided by at least 19 public toilets within the city, with trained Public Health Officers equipping toilet operators and cleaners with essential skills, knowledge, and cleaning materials and protective gear as a starter pack.
Commending the team from Washington State University for their support, she noted that proper disinfection helps prevent the spread of infectious diseases, including bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens that can thrive in public restrooms, adding that consistent and thorough cleaning reduces the risk of users contracting sicknesses.
The leader of the delegation Ms Jane Edwards, said SOPs ensures that all staff follow the same procedures every time they clean a public toilet, leading to consistent levels of cleanliness and hygiene and added that this uniformity is essential for maintaining public trust and satisfaction with the use of public toilets.
Apart from that, she stated that well-defined procedures streamline the cleaning process, making it more efficient and ensures that staff can work effectively knowing exactly what steps to follow and what products to use. Ms Mungai stated that moving forward, the County plans to expand the MoU with Public Toilet Operators, focusing on proper maintenance, provision of cleaning materials, and comprehensive user education.
Many local health regulations and industry standards require public restrooms to be maintained at certain cleanliness levels. And SOPs help organisations and cities to comply with these regulations to avoid fines and litigation by offended clients.