In the wake
of the Coronavirus pandemic, UNAIDS and Reckitt Benckiser Group plc (RB) are
joining forces to help protect people living with HIV across Africa. Working
through the UNAIDS network, the partnership hopes to reach approximately
220,000 individuals across 22 countries in Africa including Nigeria, with a
Hygiene pack that contains three-month supply of Dettol bar soap and JIK
bleach. The market value of these products is over N800 Million.
The
initiative to distribute the hygiene packs is part of its “Fight for Access
Fund”, which aims to improve access to health, hygiene and nutrition for all.
“Reckitt
Benckiser’s purpose is to protect, heal and nurture in the relentless pursuit
of a cleaner, healthier world,” says Dayanand Sriram, General Manager, Health
for Reckitt Benckiser, Nigeria. “We want and need to play our part in stemming
the effects of the pandemic and we can do this by providing access to our
high-quality hygiene products – 180,000 bars of Dettol soap. By partnering with
UNAIDS, we can reach specific groups of people who need them the most.
For
years, RB, through its brand “Dettol”, has supported the government’s effort in
promoting a healthy lifestyle through its School Hygiene Programme that
educates over 300,000 school children annually and the New Mums’ Programme that
supports over 200,000 pregnant women annually to adopt healthy habits.
“Brands like
JIK have a critical role to play in promoting hygiene in the fight against
health pandemics”, says Asif Hashimi, Country Manager, Hygiene, for Reckitt
Benckiser Nigeria. “JIK has strong heritage and roots in Africa of providing
laundry and surface disinfection for years. In these pressing times by
partnering with UNAIDS we will donate 60,000 units of JIK bleach bottles to
ensure world class disinfection is accessible to the most vulnerable in
society”.
“UNAIDS
Nigeria commends Reckitt Benckiser (RB) for its donation and timely delivery of
hygiene kits to help improve the personal hygiene of members of Nigeria’s
networks of people living with HIV at this turbulent time of COVID-19 pandemic.
We appreciate this demonstration of solidarity from RB, and we encourage other private
sector entities and philanthropists to consider doing the same with all
vulnerable populations.” said Dr Erasmus Morah, UNAIDS Country Director for
Nigeria.
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