Africa innovates Magazine -AI4DEV - Flipbook - Page 64
AFRICA INNOVATES
TIDIANE BALL, (Mali)
RISK-FREE HAND
WASHING WITH DO
S M A RT H A N DWA S H I N G S TAT I O N
DoniFab is a manufacturing laboratory based
in Bamako, which acts as a cradle for learning
and experimenting with new technologies. It is
also a space equipped with robotics and digital
tools, which allow and enable young people
to follow their design and technology dreams.
DoniFab was founded and is led by solutions-driven Tidiane Ball, who holds a doctorate
in medicine, specializing in medical informatics.
W H AT I N S P I R E D T H E D E V E LO P MENT OF THIS PRODUCT?
photo: Shutterstock.com
Coronavirus is very contagious, has a brutal impact on
all healthcare systems, and represents an unprecedented danger to our economies. Mali has not been spared.
The pandemic joins the long list of challenges we need
to overcome in our already vulnerable country. It is
urgent to take action and find accessible local solutions
to limit the spread of this virus.
W H AT H A S B E E N I T S I M PA C T ?
DoniFab teams have been working tirelessly to find
local solutions, and fight the COVID-19 pandemic. This
is why we have come up with our Smart handwashing
64 SHOWCASING AFRICAN INNOVATION
station. With traditional handwashing stations, there is
a high risk of infection because many people touch the
taps, and that way, it is easy to spread the virus. So we
have designed these stations, which are also environmentally friendly because we use solar power.
The design is a 3-in-1 basin, which in auto sequence,
dispenses soap, water and blows out hot air to dry the
hands.
The automated gadget not only reduces cross-contamination it also saves on water, soap and paper.
In a pandemic such as COVID-19, this device
becomes handy as it can easily be adapted for use in
homes, schools, markets, mosques, and offices. The station can also be resized to adapt to the frequency of use.
