Tag: Dettol

Nigeria’s leading hygiene brand, Dettol, has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing hand hygiene in Nigeria with the commemoration of Global Handwashing Day 2025, held in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, The Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), and Kiddies ‘n’ Brands, a Reckitt Catalyst beneficiary.

This year’s theme, “Be a Hero, One Handwash at a Time,” reinforces the power of individual action in driving collective change through handwashing, one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent illness and improve public health.

The flagship event, held on October 15th in Abuja, brought together key government officials, development partners, and members of the media to promote hand hygiene awareness nationwide.

The event featured practical handwashing demonstrations led by Dettol and a renewed commitment by stakeholders to scale hygiene education across communities.

Delivering the goodwill message at the event, Cassandra Uzo-Ogbugh, Head of External Communications and Partnerships, Reckitt Sub-Saharan Africa, reiterated Dettol’s leadership in hygiene advocacy and its long-standing partnership with the Federal Government.

“At Reckitt, through our flagship brand, Dettol, we have remained deeply committed to the promotion of hand hygiene for decades.

Handwashing is not just a routine practice; it is a basic human right, a key to well-being, and one of the most effective ways to prevent illness and improve public health outcomes. Our long-standing advocacy for hand hygiene is rooted in the belief that clean hands save lives, and hygiene is the foundation for health.

“To bring this commitment to life, we have continued to work closely with the Federal and State governments, championing hygiene and sanitation education that empowers communities and strengthens public health across Nigeria,” she said.

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Professor Joseph Terlumun Utsev, commended Dettol and its partners for their sustained advocacy and contribution to Nigeria’s hygiene and sanitation goals, urging continued collaboration toward a healthier nation.

“I commend Reckitt, through its Dettol brand, and our development partners, Action Against Hunger, UNICEF, WaterAid and others for their continued support in driving hygiene and sanitation improvements across Nigeria.

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“Handwashing with soap remains a first-line defence against disease and a foundation for dignity, productivity, and well-being. However, ensuring that this simple act becomes a way of life requires sustained advocacy, innovation, and collective effort. The Federal Government remains committed to working with the private sector to scale up access to hygiene facilities and strengthen behaviour change. Together, we can empower every Nigerian to be a handwashing hero and safeguard our nation’s health,” he said.

In addition to the Abuja event, Dettol’s partners extended the Global Handwashing Day commemoration to communities in Lagos and Kwara States. In Lagos, the Wellbeing Foundation Africa and Kiddies ‘n’ Brands led community and school-based engagements across Ijora and Alimosho, where students and caregivers participated in fun, interactive hygiene demonstrations reinforcing the importance of regular handwashing in line with Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 6.

Similarly, in Kwara, the Wellbeing Foundation Africa continued its Hygiene Quest programme, educating schoolchildren and families on best hygiene practices.

As part of its broader public health agenda, Dettol continues to lead impactful initiatives such as Dettol Clean Naija and the Reckitt Catalyst Initiatives, which have empowered millions of Nigerians with hygiene education and supported innovative social enterprises in the WASH and Health sector.

Through these initiatives, Dettol underscores how simple daily actions like handwashing can make a life-saving difference. Together with the government and partners, Reckitt remains committed to building a Nigeria where everyone can be a hygiene hero.

Dettol, Nigeria’s hygiene brand, has reinforced its commitment to advancing healthcare by co-sponsoring the 65th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).

Held from April 27 to May 2, in Katsina State, the event: “The Universal Applicability of Care Standards for Patients and the Well-being of Healthcare Providers”, dwelt on strengthening healthcare through standardised practice and effective public policy.

At the conference, Dettol engage directly with the medical community while also spotlighting the role of anti-microbial protection in preventing disease and strengthening community health resilience. Dr. Owoyele Ademolu, managing director/chief executive officer of Harley and Rainbow Specialised Laboratories and Diagnostics, on behalf of the brand, delivered a presentation: “Community Health Resilience: Leveraging Hygiene Protection in Outbreak Prevention.”

Drawing on historical insight and real-world data, Ademolu emphasised the public health impact of consistent hygiene interventions, particularly in dense urban settings prone to outbreaks. He noted the role of persistent anti-microbial agents in disrupting transmission pathways, especially on shared touch surfaces—and underscored how with regular use, Dettol Original protects the skin’s natural germ fighting ability for up to 12 hours.

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“When we examine disease patterns in Nigeria’s urban centres—where infrastructure gaps, water scarcity, and high population densities converge—it becomes clear that hygiene is not a luxury, but a frontline defence,” Ademolu said. “Dettol’s commitment to protection is not just about individual health; but about building collective community resilience, especially where healthcare access is stretched or delayed.”

Speaking for Reckitt Nigeria, manufacturers of Dettol, Cassandra Uzo-Ogbugh, head of External Affairs, Media and Partnerships for Reckitt sub-Saharan Africa, affirmed Dettol’s dedication to advancing Nigeria’s healthcare agenda. “We are honoured to stand with NMA at such a moment in national healthcare discourse,” Uzo-Ogbugh said. “Dettol has always propagated that good health begins with prevention of illnesses, and we see our partnership with medical professionals as essential in driving this through education, advocacy, or innovation.”

Since its introduction in 1933, Dettol has evolved from a hospital antiseptic to a global household name synonymous with hygiene and protection. In Nigeria, the brand continues to lead with innovation.

Designed to meet the demands of everyday life, Dettol’s product range empowers Nigerians at every stage—from children in classrooms to parents at work, healthcare professionals on the frontlines, and communities striving for healthier futures.

• Records drop in diseases from previous campaigns

Hygiene brand, Dettol, and its implementation partner, Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), has launched the third year of Dettol Hygiene Quest Initiative at Oduduwa Primary School, Gbagada, Lagos.

The Hygiene Quest curriculum, under the Dettol Clean Naija Initiative, aims to reach six million children by 2030, by equipping them with lessons on handwashing, cleanliness and reducing absenteeism and hygiene-related diseases in children by 10 per cent.

Since its inception in 2013, the Dettol School Hygiene Programme, through which the  Dettol Hygiene Quest curriculum is used, has made impact, transforming hygiene practice in schools, homes, and healthcare facilities in Nigeria.

 Now in its third year with WBFA, it has conducted programmes in Lagos, Kwara and Abuja in schools, hospitals and communities. Over 269,758 school children have been taught the principles of hygiene, 69,233 expectant and lactating mothers have received evidence-based hygiene education, 32,928 community members have been empowered as health promoters in their households, and over 2,300 healthcare workers have been trained to implement and sustain hygiene led care standards.

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Speaking at the event, Cassandra Uzo-Ogbugh, head of External Affairs and Partnerships for Reckitt sub-Saharan Africa, said: “Hygiene education is the cornerstone of disease prevention, and through our collaboration with our partners, we are fostering sustainable hygiene habits. Now in its 13th year, and having educated over seven million children, we are proud to see the impact the programme has delivered over the past years.

‘We are proud of the impact in 2024; they include: In noticeable communicable diseases, a 34 per cent, 22 per cent and 16 per cent decrease among students in Abuja, Kwara, and Lagos State. In the area of school absenteeism rate due to illness, there was a 40.91 per cent, 16.01 percent and 12.28 per cent decrease in Abuja, Lagos and Kwara.

She continued that proper hand washing habits and wide-scale hygiene education can prevent many hygiene-related illnesses like diarrhoea and the flu.  “I want to thank our partners, the Wellbeing Foundation, Governments and Facilitators across the states. As we commence the 2025 session of the Dettol School Hygiene Program, we look forward to an even bigger positive impact on the health of our children and students, but we ask that everyone join in the fight to eradicate the prevalence of hygiene-related diseases”, she said.

Her Excellency, Princess Toyin Ojora Saraki, Founder and President of The Wellbeing Foundation Africa, emphasised the profound impact of this initiative while delivering her goodwill speech, “It is both an honour and a professional responsibility to mark the formal commencement of Year Three of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa Dettol Hygiene Quest Program. Our task, as we open this next implementation cycle is threefold: to sustain the quality and coverage of the programme with professional discipline; to continue to expand the year count and geographical reach, recognising the increasing demand for community-based hygiene education that is standardised and evidence-aligned; and (third), to ensure that our communication and advocacy fully reflect the complexity and ambition of this work. Public health is not advanced through proclamations alone, but through structured systems that educate, enable, and empower. The WBFA Dettol Hygiene Quest is one such system, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that it endures, evolves, and delivers for the Nigerian children with us today, and generations”.

The event was a dynamic and engaging experience for the pupils, featuring interactive hand washing demonstrations, hygiene education sessions, and distribution of Dettol soaps and educational materials.

As the event concluded, the sense of empowerment among the students was unmistakable. Beyond the knowledge imparted, they left with a newfound responsibility—to be hygiene ambassadors within their homes and communities. By equipping the next generation with essential hygiene knowledge, Dettol and WBFA are fostering a cultural shift that ensures better health and wellbeing for years to come.