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: Mrs. Chidinma Erue-Ifeanyi, Safeguard, BOIM, Dr. Yinka Goodman, Territorial Manager Society for Family Health, Lagos and Mrs. Mokutima Ajileye, Brand Operations Integration Manager at the Global Hand Washing Day and the Launch of ‘Doctors on Wheels’ Programme in Lagos recently |
As part of activities to commemorate the 2012 Global Hand Washing Day (GHWD), Safeguard anti-bacterial soap launched the Safeguard ‘Doctor on Wheel’s’ program. To spread the handwashing message even further, Safeguard antibacterial soap also partnered with the Society for Family Health (SFH) Nigeria to hold a series of handwashing enlightenment campaigns across Nigeria.
Speaking at the Launch of the ‘Doctors on Wheels’ program in Ikotun market, Dr. Yinka Goodman, Territorial Manager for Society for Family Health (SFH), Lagos; addressed the gathering at the Safeguard ‘Doctor on wheels’ program launch on the importance of hand washing.
The medical doctor stressed the importance of hand washing noting that hand washing has become the singular most important preventive measure in the control of infection transmitted through the feaco-oral and via droplets.
She said SHF was collaborating with Procter and Gamble because they know that the battle against control of diarrheal diseases cannot be won alone, remarking that hand washing remains key as treated water and well cooked meals can be contaminated by contaminated hands.
She said countless numbers of childhood death and illness could have been prevented, remarking that diarrheal and respiratory illnesses are responsible for high number of hospital visits amongst children.
Goodman said the fact remained that we cannot ‘over wash’ our hands, because we go round with our hands and they make contacts daily even beyond what we can think, adding that SFH has carried out a lot intervention on control of diarrheal diseases especially through purifying drinking water.
P&G’s Brand Integration operations manager, Mokutima Ajileye spoke on the new program saying, “Safeguard ‘Doctor on Wheels’ program, aims to touch and improve consumers’ lives by raising awareness about germs, giving education on the importance of good hygiene practices, and disease prevention through regular handwashing with soap. The carefully designed program features hygiene talks, handwashing demonstrations, basic health checks; and would enable qualified medical Doctors to have ‘one on one’ interactions with consumers through the mobile medical program to be executed in Open Markets across Nigeria starting from Lagos.
Ajileye continued saying that, “To further mark the Global Handwashing day, today Safeguard antibacterial soap is also partnering with the Society for Family Health in holding community and school-focused programs to promote handwashing in Bauchi, Oyo and Cross River states. The partnership is as a result of the undeniable strong congruence between the purpose of Safeguard as a brand and the Society for Family Health’s commitment to take the important message of handwashing with soap across Nigeria. We believe that with this partnership, we can jointly make more of a difference in positively influencing the attitudes of the general public towards handwashing.
She also disclosed that Safeguard is donating over 100,000 educational booklets to children in schools in different parts of Nigeria. Ajileye said, “Safeguard recognizes children are potential ‘change agents’. By educating children through these booklets about the importance of handwashing with soap and good hygiene practices, children will adopt healthy habits early in life, with the capacity to influence their families and friends for many years to come; this makes children the ‘ultimate’ Champions of Health.”
P&G’s Communications and Government Relations Leader for West Africa, Temitope Iluyemi elucidated on Safeguard Antibacterial Soap’s focus on handwashing. “Safeguard has chosen to be at the front line of defence in protecting the health of the family thus fulfilling its purpose of helping people safeguard the ones they love. To date, Safeguard has reached over 100 million children with its health and hygiene education around the world.
UNICEF estimates that diarrhea alone kills one child every 30 seconds. These are staggering statistics. These numbers can be drastically reduced with wide dissemination of the information that the timely washing hands with soap can cut diarrhea risk by almost half, and respiratory tract infection by a third. P&G’s Safeguard soap, endorsed by the African Medical Association (AfMA) has antibacterial properties that prevent disease. Unlike ordinary soaps, Safeguard’s unique formulation prevents re-growth of skin germs for up to 12 hours after washing.”
The GHWD started in 2008 and is now celebrated every year on October 15. The objective of the commemoration is to foster and support a global culture of hand washing with soap, shine a spotlight on the state of hand washing in every community and raise awareness about the benefits of hand washing with soap.
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