Lifebuoy improves health at Turffontein Primary School
Improving their health conditions has a positive impact on family medical bills too
JOHANNESBURG SOUTH – A schools project, Lifebuoy’s School of five and Wrapper Campaign, and five super-heroes were launched in schools last month, causing a dramatic increase in good health practices among primary school learners.
Unilever’s Lifebuoy brand headed into 162 schools nationally, reaching more than 100 000 pupils with a project which encourages learners to adopt a new hand washing habit within just 21 days. The campaign focusses on children aged between six and 12 years old, in grades R to four.
Brand Manager for Lifebuoy William van der Westhuizen said ‘the project reached not only the pupils but their families and friends over the 21 day period. Lifebuoy is a trusted brand that has been used by South Africans for many years, and it has been actively involved in teaching good health practices and hand-washing habits in schools for a number of years.
“Good health practices and habits should not only be taught and focused on in winter, handwashing with soap is an important factor in breaking the chain of infection in all seasons. The 21-day habit benefitted learners as well as their parents.
“By improving their health conditions, it has a positive impact on family medical bills too,” Van der Westhuizen added. “Research has proven that a new habit can be adopted in just 21 days, which was ably demonstrated in schools around South Africa.”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), diarrhoea and pneumonia combined are responsible for the deaths of millions of children under the age of five every year. The majority of these deaths are linked to poor hygiene and a lack of access to sanitation, but research has proved that the simple hygiene habit of washing hands with soap can reduce this figure by almost half.
Ms Anastasia Rigney, principal of Turffontein Primary School, added that the Lifebuoy’s School of five and Wrapper Campaign had an impact on the learners who have learnt the importance of handwashing, and they continue this practice before eating at break time and after going to the bathroom.
The prize chosen by the school was a computer and printer. She added that the computer and printer will make a huge difference for teachers to do research and print.
