My Steripen Classic 3 UV Water Purifier Was Always The First Item In My Backpack!
At the end of 2019 I was completing my Peace Corps service, making big life decisions, and plans to continue traveling. The world had other plans. As COVID-19 rapidly spread across the globe and unprecedented lockdown orders and border closings were enacted, I had to tuck my plans to travel in my back pocket. Almost two years later I am taking those plans out again. A lot of things have changed in the world, and this pandemic has altered our normal.
At the beginning of this pandemic, the availability and access problems to clean water were elevated with the implementation of hand washing protocols. Bottled water is an expensive luxury for many people, and plastic bottles become waste which negatively contributes to the environment.
As a Peace Corps Volunteer, my Steripen was always the first item in my backpack when I went for outreach activities or traveled around the country with fellow volunteers. It was a relief to know I could fill my reusable water bottle from any borehole or hostel bathroom sink and protect myself from any Protozoan Cysts.
The Steripen's UV light kills 99.9% of the bacteria and viruses making water safe for consumption. I was able to take my Steripen out of retirement recently on a domestic trip to Kidepo Valley National Park . This is a remote area of Uganda near the South Sudan and Kenyan borders has scarce water sources. Visiting tourists are requested to make reservations in advance because most food and bottled water is flowing into the park. It was a relief to know that I could travel here and safely drink water without buying plastic bottles.
As many of us revisit travel plans and get ready to make our way back out to the world, we have a lot of responsibility. Whether it's masking up, reducing waste, or accessing clean water, we should not forget all of the ways we can minimize harm to ourselves and those around us, regardless of the virus at hand.
-Lauren is a not-so-Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, teacher, gender and global health enthusiast, and writer at Uganda Live and Travel
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