Dettol announced the donation of hands-free handwashing stations to 400 clinics across South Africa, along with a three-month supply of soap per station (one million bars of soap).
Deputy Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla and acting Health MEC Jacob Mamabolo officially received the donation.
Dettol recognises that these items are crucial in the fight against the pandemic and it has already begun the deployment of the stations and soap directly to the public clinics.
The donation is part of the Dettol Protects the Frontline campaign, which was launched in partnership with the National Department of Health, the Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal and Western Cape Department of Health, and the healthcare company, Triple Eight.
Dettol and Triple Eight’s campaign, with support of government, aims to help health workers in the battle against Covid-19.
Kunal Sahgal, Dettol marketing director, Africa said: “We know that handwashing with soap and clean water is the first line of defense against Covid-19 and many other communicable diseases. “In addition the government, health and hygiene companies like Reckitt Benckiser, have had an important role to play in ensuring access to and availability of soaps, sanitisers, and disinfectants to help communities protect themselves.”
The stations include step-by-step instructions for correct handwashing with soap and clear water and will be placed at clinic entrances, where handwashing will be mandatory before entry. Together with the million bars of soap, this intervention will help about 200 000 individuals in public health facilities each day.
Dr Susam Louw, Dettol spokesperson and pathologist at National Health Laboratory Service added that the communicable diseases, including Covid-19 and diarrhoea and transmitted because of a failure to practise basic hygiene.
WATCH: Video demonstrating how the Dettol foot-pump hand washing station works
“Research shows that washing hands with soap and water is one of the most effective ways to prevent communicable diseases and can reduce diarrhoea deaths by more than 40 per cent. “Washing hands regularly is key, so wash them after being in the bathroom, before preparing food, after eating, after playing outside (especially children), in contact with garbage, after touching door handles and phones, after shopping or in a public transport,” she said.
Sarika Mondi, managing director, Triple Eight said Dettol soaps have been tested and proven to be effective against the Covid-19 virus. This is not the first intervention by the company.
“Over the past eight years, Dettol has partnered with us in a series of school and clinic programmes, with the full support of the Department of Health, in an effort to reduce preventable deaths from hygiene-related illness and to give families the gift of better health.”
Both Phaahla and Mamabolo thanked Dettol and Triple Eight for the donations and the continuous fight of the coronavirus.
Practice the seven steps of handwashing to protect yourself from gems
• Wet your hands under running water and apply soap
• Rub your palms together
• Rub your fingers and palms and the space between them
• Rub your fingers and thumbs
• Rub your thumbs in your palms
• Rub your nails and palms
• Rub your fingers in your palms
