‘Safe Hands’ of Pears continues to cradle the future of Sri Lanka

Pears, the most trusted baby toiletries brand in the country continues to assure a safer world for Sri Lankan babies. The 18th milestone of the Pears Safe Hands project will be unveiled soon in Welikanda Hospital.

Pears Safe Hands program was  initiated on World Children’s Day in 2002, with the intention of  providing less fortunate children from low income families, access to improved paediatric /child care facilities in government hospitals. The initial project was the refurbishment and renovation of the Emergency Treatment and Nebulization Unit of Lady Ridgeway hospital.

From the Pears Safe Hands projects completed so far, It is estimated that over 300,000 children in 8 provinces of the country and the medical staff of hospitals selected under this initiative have benefited immensely, and will continue to benefit. Benefits provided under this scheme include enhanced paediatric/child health care facilities in the form of nebulization units, neo-natal and premature birth care facilities and in addition, maternal health-care provisions.  

According to Mrs. Ramani Samarasundera, Director – Personal Care, Unilever Sri Lanka said, “ Post-war Sri Lanka is trying to reach its social development goals. As a  private sector entity we want to extend our support to realize these goals by dedicating our resources and support for initiatives that have a strategic fit with our brands. Safe Hands project is one such social wealth generation initiative of Unilever.” Mrs. Samarasundera also said that as a prominent FMCG business in Sri Lanka, Unilever touches the lives of millions of Sri Lankans every day and through their brands, aspire to make people look good, feel good and get more out of life.

 “Welikanda hospital caters to about 13 PHM areas (about 13000 people). The present project in Welikanda Hospital is very unique as this area was a border village during the separatist war. The people, mostly farmers who suffered immense atrocities now expect to lead a normal life meeting their basic needs.” said Mr. Kasun Liyanage, Snr. Brand Manager – Pears. According to Mr. Liyanage,  the maternity and children’s wards have been re-done along with other basic renovations necessary for the hospital. In addition, a children’s play area has been constructed and a complete face-lift has been given to the children’s section.   

Unilever - Pears “Safe Hands” CSR project is a self funded initiative financed by channeling 25 cents from each Pears product that is sold and so far the fund has contributed about Rs. 60 millions to give care and comfort to new and young lives of the country. Welikanda hospital project and the previous 17 projects that were conducted all over the island during the 10 year period were especially in rural areas. This includes the project in Jaffna Teaching Hospital last year. According to Unilever, prior to commencing each project the recommendation of the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians is obtained to ensure transparency and clarity and a few more projects are in the pipeline for 2012.