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Paidamoyo Chipunza Senior Health Reporter
Transnational consumer goods company Unilever on Tuesday took its hygiene campaign to the opening of the First Session of the Ninth Parliament following its pledge to continue assisting Government in the fight against cholera through imparting knowledge on good hygiene practices.
Speaking from one of the hygiene booths set up in Africa Unity Square, Unilever managing director Mr Hilary Muzondiwa said the company has been carrying out hygiene campaigns through its Lifebuoy and Domestos brands since the typhoid outbreak in Gweru and now cholera in Harare.
“As Unilever, we are very happy to work with the Government and the people of Zimbabwe. We are always ready to play our role to make sure that the communities we serve are healthy as part of our sustainability vision,” said Mr Muzondiwa.
He said, they decided to take their campaign to Parliament because legislators play a leading role in societies through their ability to influence change of behaviour and perceptions.
“Today, we joined the Parliament opening as part of our efforts to raise awareness on good hygiene practices such as hand washing with soap and running water as a preventative measure of diarrhoeal diseases such as cholera,” said Mr Muzondiwa.
He said Unilever would continue to work with Government and all relevant institutions to explore various platforms on educating the public on health and wellness.
Since the beginning of its campaign, Unilever teams have visited the high-density residential areas of Budiriro and Glen View educating communities on hand-washing techniques, effective toilet cleaning, general health care and donating Lifebuoy soap and Domestos.
The campaign schedule will see Unilever visiting clinics, shopping centres and primary schools mainly in the affected high-density areas spreading the same message on health hygiene.
Some of the schools that have already been visited include Budiriro 5 Primary, Glen View 2 and 3 primary schools and Budiriro 3 Primary reaching more than 10 000 children to date.
“Hygiene measures such as hand-washing with soap and running water after visiting the toilet and before eating or preparing food have been cited by health experts as some of the most cost-effective interventions to prevent diarrhoea- related diseases.
“This is why we are focusing more on hygiene and safety measures through our Lifebuoy and Domestos brands that are centred on public health issues. We hope that this goes a long way in reducing the number of cases reported,” said Mr Muzondiwa.
Statistics from the Ministry of Health and Child Care showed that 31 people had died of cholera as of yesterday and over 6 500 were treated from various treatment camps while 11 people died of typhoid in Harare and Gweru.
The national cumulative figure of suspected typhoid cases stood at 6 675 as of yesterday.
Both cholera and typhoid are hygiene-related infections, which are highly contagious.
Online Reporter