Making use of his skills in recycling waste into something useful, an Omani entrepreneur from Samail has come up with an innovative handwashing machine which doesn’t require use of hands to open a tap or liquid soap dispenser to wash hands for curbing the spread of COVID-19.

The 27-year-old entrepreneur, Mazin Said Khalfan al Rawahi, used his skills to provide a tap which would help people wash their hands without the need to touch the tap or soap dispenser. This, he said, was necessary in the time of the coronavirus which spreads by touching infected surfaces. 

Rawahi, who has a small unit at home from where he has been churning out furniture by recycling waste since 2013, said that he made the semi-automatic handwashing machine to help curb COVID-19 in the Wilayat of Samail in Dakhliyah. 

Speaking to Muscat Daily, he said, “I started to make it on May 20 and used wood and metal scraps, and moulded them manually with simple tools. However, I had to buy a new small water pump and stainless steel wash basin.”

The ready semi-automatic machine was installed by a supermarket in wadi Bani Rawah in Samail. “It cost me around RO40 to make,” he said.

Rawahi added that the first important lesson during the coronavirus pandemic is to keep washing hands at regular intervals. “I made it to help curb COVID-19 in Samail. The machine has two pedals, operated by foot. One to release soap and the other to release water. It allows users to hit the pedals without touching surfaces with their hands, thereby reducing the possibility of contracting the coronavirus.”

Talking about his innovations, he said, “I make all kinds of products such as chairs, tables, fountains, gift items from wood and metal scraps. I promote my products on social media platforms.”

He added, “Recycling wood and metal scrap is not easy. You need money to buy waste from scrap dealers. It then requires a lot of hard work and patience. A part of my house has been converted into a manufacturing unit.”

About his future plans, he said, “Success doesn’t come overnight. I wish to build a furniture factory and sell my products all over the world. I strive to make a lot of handwashing machines and place them in the various wilayats of the sultanate to limit the spread of the coronavirus.”