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SWAP’s water lab is an essential asset attracting lots of research partners evaluating water and sanitation products, technologies and innovations. The lab offers bacteriological water quality testing and full chemical analysis.

 

It is a production unit for alcohol based hand rub, liquid soap, and chlorine. These products are essential for hygiene, infection prevention and control during disease outbreaks and pandemics. It supported the Ministry of Health with waste water based epidemiology research (PCR testing) during the COVID-19 epidemic and for malaria DNA research.

 

SWAP has always been the first responder during emergency situations such as flood and cholera outbreaks. SWAP works together with western Kenya humanitarian hub partners. The lab team conducts water sample collection and water quality analysis of suspected contaminated sources. Through this, chlorination could be done to avoid further spread of disease, which was lifesaving. The lab is a learning hub for national and international students. The lab is further used to monitor the water quality of SWAP’s community solar powered decentralized water disinfection units which provides safe water at affordable rates for remote and underserved communities. For the past 8 years, a second parasitology lab was operational for the ground breaking research and interventions on neglected tropical diseases such as bilharzia, intestinal worms and malaria.

 

More research is currently done on the impact of climate change on mosquitoes. The lab team has a wealth of experience and provides advisory services to other partners.

 

Various international partners supporting the lab were relying on USAID funding. Following the executive orders from US President and sudden stop work order, funding for the operations of the lab was terminated. In order to keep operational at international standards funding is needed to support the following:

• Procurement of ingredients for the production unit and water quality testing

• Calibration and service of equipment

• Mandatory training of lab team on international and national standards

• Annual registration fee and Kenya Bureau of Standards Permit fee

• Minor renovations to increase work space

• Transport to monitor water quality

• Personal protective equipment and supplies