Bayer to dole out H2O wheels

Karachi: Bayer Pakistan has joined hands with Tayaba Organization to provide 2,000 H2O (Help-2-Others) Water Wheels to water-scarce communities in Sindh and Punjab, a statement said on Tuesday.

H2O wheels are specially designed 40-litre drum containers with handles which enable people to roll water from its source rather than carry it on their heads the traditional way; in terracotta pots which are not only heavy, but have a limited capacity.

Endorsed by Pakistan’s Water Ministry, the project offers not only hygienic transportation but also hygienic storage for water and will help reduce the incidence of disease. It will also alleviate the physical burden on women and children of lifting heavy loads, thereby reducing injury.

Moreover, the project aims at supporting educational and economic opportunities for women and children, thanks to time saved by the use of H2O Water Wheels in comparison to traditional water transportation methods.

In addition, by introducing a gender-neutral transportation method and encouraging male engagement, the project helps redefine gender roles by reframing the enduring perception of water fetching and transportation as being “women’s work”. It will therefore reduce the burden on women, one H2O Water Wheel at a time.