Unilever oral health campaign reaches 2.5million children
Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) giant, Unilever says its Pepsodent Oral Health Schools program which was launched in 2014 has directly reached over 2.5million children in over 3,500 public primary schools across the nation.
The campaign is committed to improving the oral health of 10 million children in Nigeria by 2020 through the Brush Day & Night schools’ programme. And as part of the initiative, Unilever distributed products (toothpaste and toothbrushes), educational materials and a 21days oral hygiene program, teaching children to imbibe the culture of brushing twice-daily using a fluoride containing toothpaste such as Pepsodent.
And recently, in furtherance of the campaign, Unilever has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Ministry of Health and Unilever Nigeria Plc to ensure good dental care for all Nigerians. The ceremony, took place during the 6th edition of the National Oral Health Week held in Abuja on Tuesday.
Speaking at the event, The Hon. Minister of Health Prof Isaac F. Adewole noted that oral health is an important tool for achieving good general health. He said, “fewer than 20% of Nigerians have access to oral care services and most of these services focus on curative rather than preventive care which might represent more effective tool for meeting the oral care needs of the population”.
He further commended Unilever Nigeria Plc for accepting to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Health to promote the oral hygiene of 10 million Nigerian school children by providing educational materials and product facilities through the Pepsodent oral health schools’ programme.
Commenting on the initiative, The Brand Manager Pepsodent, Unilever Nigeria Plc, George Umoh said Unilever is committed to doing business in a sustainable way and as part of its sustainability agenda “we have committed to improving the lives of 10 million Nigerian children by the year 2020. To this regard, we have signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigerian Dental Association and other stakeholders to promote oral hygiene and education and the habit of brushing twice daily (Morning and Night) a global best practice to prevent the prevalence of dental caries and other oral health diseases in Nigeria.
“We believe children are change agents. They have the will power to influence their parents, siblings and people around them to take their oral health seriously.” the Brand manager said.
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