SPOTLIGHTS
- The Dettol Hygiene Quest programme promotes hygiene practices in schools, communities, and healthcare facilities
- The programme aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals and aims to reach 6 million children by 2023
- Governor Sanwo-Olu praised the initiative and pledged Lagos State’s support for expanding hygiene education.
From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
Founder of The Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), Mrs Toyin Saraki, and the Chief Executive Officer of Reckitt, Kris Licht, have paid a courtesy call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as part of activities marking their programme, Dettol Hygiene Quest. The programme targets 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 reaching 9,200 school students, 7,000 community members, and 25,000 mothers in healthcare facilities. The final reach was 9,321 school students, 8,128 community members and 25,835 mothers.
She further stated that the programme is expanding its reach significantly. Targets for phase two 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 schoolchildren, 28,200 community members, and 48,000 mothers in healthcare facilities,” she added.
The WBFA Founder and the Reckitt CEO and his team toured Model Primary School in Maitama, Abuja, one of the 620 implementing schools for the Dettol Hygiene Quest programme.
The programme, facilitated by WBFA midwives and nurse educators, guides students in proper handwashing techniques while ensuring the constant use of handwash stations.
Mr Licht praised the students for their knowledge and emphasised the importance of consistent hand hygiene. 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 school visit, WBFA and the Reckitt team met with the World Health Organisation (WHO) Nigeria to strengthen collaborative efforts in addressing public health challenges, emphasising their dedication to driving significant health improvements.
Highlights of the Reckitt Global CEO’s visit included the celebration of Reckitt’s Agbara Factory’s 44th anniversary in producing essential health and hygiene products. A Social Impact Stakeholders’ Dinner was also held in Lagos, 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 schoolchildren by 2035.
The dinner ceremony acknowledged outstanding innovators and highlighted committed social impact initiatives. The Wellbeing Foundation Africa and Dettol Hygiene Quest Programme, which supports the Federal Government of Nigeria’s Clean Naija Campaign, was recognised for its leadership role in promoting water and sanitation hygiene education for a cleaner, healthier nation.