…Take Hygiene Programme To Schools
Founder of The Wellbeing Foundation Africa, WBFA,Mrs. Toyin Saraki and the Chief Executive Officer of Reckitt, located at Agbara, Ogun State, Kris Licht, have paid a courtesy call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as part of activities marking their programme, Dettol Hygiene Quest, targeted at schools, communities and healthcare facilities in Nigeria. They also visited the British High Commissioner, Richard Montgomery.
According to Mrs Saraki, the first phase of the programme, which focused on instilling crucial health and hygiene practices covered 92 schools, 96 communities, and 35 healthcare facilities in Nigeria.
She said the impact was remarkable, surpassing initial targets of 9,321 school students (exceeding the target of 9,200), 8,128 community members (surpassing the target of 7,000), and 25,835 mothers in healthcare facilities (beyond the target of 25,000).
She further said the programme is expanding its reach significantly, adding that the targets for the phase 2 include reaching 620 schools, with 200 in Lagos, 120 in Abuja, and 300 in Kwara.
“it will cover 360 communities, distributing evenly at 120 per state, and 36 healthcare facilities, with 12 per state. This phase intends to benefit a substantial number of beneficiaries, targeting 248,000 school children, 28,200 community members, and 48,000 mothers in healthcare facilities”, she added
WBFA Founder and CEO Reckitt and its team toured Model Primary School in Maitama, Abuja, one of the 620 implementing schools for the Dettol Hygiene àQuest program.
The programme, which is facilitated by WBFA midwives and nurse educators guides students in proper handwashing techniques, while ensuring the constant use of handwash stations available.
Mr. Kris Licht praised the students for their knowledge and emphasized the importance of consistent hand hygiene, while Mrs.Saraki shared her inspiration for the HANDWASH programme, reaffirming WBFA’s commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and reaching 6 million children by 2023.
After the visit to the school, WBFA and the Reckitt team met with the World Health Organization (WHO) Nigeria to strengthen collaborative efforts in addressing public health challenges, emphasizing their dedication to driving significant health improvements.
The highlights of the visit of Reckitt’s Global CEO were the celebration of Reckitt’s Agbara Factory’s 44th anniversary in producing essential health and hygiene products and a Social Impact Stakeholders’ Dinner in Lagos, which was attended by key figures, including Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and British Deputy High Commissioner Jonny Baxter.
Governor Sanwo-Olu praised the organisations’ efforts and reiterated Lagos State’s support for educating 10 million school children by 2035.
The dinner ceremony acknowledged outstanding innovators and highlighted committed social impact initiatives, including the Wellbeing Foundation Africa and Dettol Hygiene Quest Program supporting the Federal Government of Nigeria Clean Naija Campaign, implemented by the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, for its leadership role in promoting water and sanitation hygiene education for a cleaner healthier nation.
