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UNICEF and Spar Zimbabwe have partnered to increase awareness of child rights issues.
The collaboration will mostly take the form of joint communication campaigns with Spar customers about health concerns, including the importance of hand washing and good hygiene practices.
The first campaign aims to educate people about diarrheal diseases such as cholera and how to stop its spread.
Both UNICEF and Spar Zimbabwe are reportedly already in discussion about more projects to follow in the coming months.
“The partnership between UNICEF and Spar Zimbabwe speaks to our private sector engagement for the promotion of the rights and wellbeing of children and their families,” UNICEF country representative, Dr Tajudeen Oyewale, said.
“The campaign rolled out through Spar Zimbabwe network will without doubt reach many people and complement the communication campaigns of the Government, UNICEF and partners in Zimbabwe.
“We look forward to further engagement with SPAR Zimbabwe on several issues that focus on the rights and the well-being of children.”
As part of the national response, cholera awareness is promoted through SPAR’s social media platforms and in all their 35 stores across the country.
The communication material developed to support the campaign is based on the health messages developed by the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
Spar Zimbabwe general manager, Cypren Borerwe, said the collaboration with UNICEF was in line with the company’s mission statement.
“The collaboration was in line with our mission statement ‘Better Together’ which encapsulates our philosophy of being part of the community in which we operate, not just geographically, but also by being involved at grassroots level in sustainable community development projects,” he said.
Bongani Ndlovu
Mathew Masinge