Unilever Sri Lanka joins hands with the Ministry of Health

Unilever Sri Lanka (USL) is partnering with the Ministry of Health to improve hygienic practices among Sri Lankan people. As part of the partnership, USL will be supporting the Ministry to conduct a hygiene awareness campaign among antenatal mothers, on the importance of proper hand washing.

The partnership was announced on the Global Handwashing Day, at a press conference held at the Health Education Bureau. Unilever, through its sustainable living plan, has set a target to help a billion people world over to improve their health and wellbeing by 2020. This campaign and partnership with the Ministry of Health is in line with this commitment.

Additional Secretary – Medical Services, Dr. Palitha Mahipala commenting on the new partnership said, “The Government of Sri Lanka spends more on health sector development in comparison to other South Asian countries. The heath sector in Sri Lanka has improved rapidly due to the initiatives taken by the Ministry by way of public health programs, health education and investment in new health equipment etc.

Ensuring a healthy society is not only the Government’s responsibility. As responsible corporate citizens, the private sector can also make a big difference. In this context, we are happy to see the interest shown by Unilever in this public-private partnership”.

Commenting on the programme, Ramani Samarasundera, Director – Marketing, Personal Care, Unilever Sri Lanka said, “In November 2010, Unilever adopted the Unilever sustainable living plan, committing to a 10 year journey towards sustainable growth. In Sri Lanka, in line with our sustainable living plan, we are putting in place plans that will improve hygiene awareness in the country.  This partnership is a step in this direction, and reflects our commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of our communities.”

The activities implemented through the partnership will run into a long-term engagement with a view to achieving positive habit change, resulting in improved hygiene among the target group. Plans are under way to educate pregnant mothers about the importance of hand washing through medical officers of health and the field staff in the identified locality.

The project will be piloted in Galle, Gampaha and Nuware Eliya and rolled out to the other parts of the country in time to come. To mark the Global Handwashing Day in Sri Lanka, Unilever employees also joined hands with the Ministry of Health in awareness programmes conducted in hospitals. Pregnant mothers and mothers with new born-babies were educated at these programs conducted in Ragama Hospital, Kalubowila Hospital, Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Castle Hospital and De Soysa Maternity Hospital.