Dettol, one of the leading anti-bacterial soap brands in Nigeria has launched its ‘Clean Naija’ Initiative, a campaign aimed at creating awareness, education and driving behavioural change to achieve a cleaner and healthier Nigeria.
The launch also doubled as the unveiling of prominent Nollywood actress and multiple award-winning producer, Funke Akindele-Bello, as its brand ambassador.
Speaking at the event held in Lagos on Tuesday, the General Manager, Reckitt Benckiser West Africa, Mr. Dayanand Sriram expressed his excitement and enthusiasm about the launch and partnership with the federal and state governments through the ministries of water resources, health and education.
He said “At RB, we have made it our responsibility and purpose to help people live healthier lives and have happier homes.
“It is why we are launching the Clean Naija Initiative which is an integrated multi-level campaign with the aim of creating awareness, education and driving behavioural change to achieve a cleaner and healthier Nigeria.
“Mrs. Akindele-Bello has been a worthy role model and an inspiration for all Nigerians. Having also recorded success in various selfless activities, we have deemed her worthy of leading our “Clean Naija Initiative.”
The initiative comes at a critical time, as Nigeria had been ranked amongst the top nations that bear a significant portion of the global disease burden and high under-5 mortality rates with over 150,000 children dying yearly.
Many of these diseases, such as diarrhea can be prevented by proper hand washing habits and wide-scale hygiene education, according to the organisers. This is a major motivation for the setting up of the Clean Naija Initiative, they said.
Also speaking at the event, the new brand ambassador, Mrs. Akindele-Bello who recently had a set of twins, said: “As a new mother, I have come to appreciate more the need for improved hygiene practices. This campaign will help sensitize Nigerians on the health benefits of adopting simple but effective hygienic practices like proper hand washing regularly.”
The ‘Clean Naija Initiative’ will help educate children on proper hand hygiene habits through the School Hygiene Programme, while the New Mum’s Programme will enlighten pregnant and new mothers on hygienic practices that will protect them and their children from deadly diseases like diarrhea.
It will be recalled that through the School Hygiene Programme, Reckitt Benckiser has educated over seven million children on proper hand hygiene habits, while the company has used the New Mum’s Programme to educate over five million pregnant and new mothers on hygienic practices to protect them during the pre-natal and post-natal phases of their pregnancies.
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