Abt Associates/POUZN Launches Aquatabs in Benin

The Abt Associates-led POUZN (Point-of-Use Water Disinfection and Zinc Treatment) project, with partner Population Services International (PSI), has launched a new water treatment product, Aquatabs in Benin. Aquatabs are chlorine-based tablets used to treat drinking water, granting those without access to clean water the opportunity to have safe, potable water in their homes and prevent such diseases as cholera, typhoid, dysentery, and diarrhea. Aquatabs, which is manufactured by POUZN’s partner Medentech, has been approved by the World Health Organization and used by a number of international relief agencies in humanitarian emergencies. The launch of Aquatabs marks the first time a point-of-use water purification system has been made available to the Beninois population and offers the promise of a healthier life to its users.

The product launch was held at “La Vie Nouvelle” (“New Life”) health center on October 1st in Ladji on the outskirts of Cotonou. It was presided over by a Deputy Director in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Dorothée Yèvidée. During the launch ceremony, Dr. Yèvidée stated that “with the introduction of Aquatabs, we no longer have the right or an excuse for giving our children and families unsanitary water." The choice to hold the launch in Ladji was not a random one, but was instead purposeful, as its water sources are often contaminated by wandering animals and it does not have functioning sanitation infrastructure, demonstrating the extreme need for products like Aquatabs.

The introduction of Aquatabs onto the market through PSI’s social marketing efforts is part of POUZN’s larger goal of preventing and treating diarrhea, which often leads to death for children under 5 years old. Additionally, Aquatabs complements the OraselZinc diarrhea treatment kit that PSI already markets in Benin. Aquatabs are sold for 125 CFA (about $.25) for a packet of 10 tablets to ensure that the product is accessible to those with limited means. They will be sold in health centers, pharmacies, and shops across the country.