In Sri Lanka, lots of people ride lots of buses, lots of times, everyday. This makes buses ideal for spreading germs. Asiri Hospitals, one of the country's largest healthcare providers, as part of its commitment to improve health across the nation, wanted to do more than just educate people about it – it wanted to do something about it and bring strong attention to the issue. Introducing the Soap Bus Ticket.

Using paper fused with soap, special ticket rolls were developed.

Now, when passengers boarded a bus, they didn't just receive a disposable ticket, they received a ticket they could use to protect themselves from any germs they may have picked up by simply washing their hands.

The Soap Bus Ticket rolls were used on some of Sri Lanka’s busiest routes. Posters and signboards educating and informing people were put up inside buses, and announcements about the ticket and the importance of washing your hands, were made at every major stop. Promotional and educational material was also used at bus stops, public stations and at Asiri Hospitals themselves.

The campaign began by working closely with a paper company to develop soap-infused paper that could be used in a bus conductor’s ticket machine. We then worked with a bus operator to test the paper as well as to get it on buses along with material informing and educating travellers. We also worked with relevant authorities to get material posted at bus stops and public toilets.

The campaign was finally executed as planned during the traditional Sri Lankan New Year period, where tickets were given out to all travellers.

The Soap Bus Ticket was a unique innovation that a significant impact on Sri Lankan’s from all walks of life. It not only educated them but encouraged them to start a positive habit that stopped germs and kept them safe.