Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) has partnered with Reckitt Benckiser (Manufacturers of Dettol and Jik) to promote hygiene and curb the spread of coronavirus as part of the Global Handwashing Week celebrations.
They have installed handwashing stations, donated soaps/hand wash and carried out habit education for communities living around KBL water projects in Kisumu and Homa -bay as well as sorghum and barley farmers in Narok and Tharaka-Nithi counties.
A typical handwashing unit has a capacity of 100litres of water and will be stocked with Dettol soap. The units have a foot pump, and drainage bucket, and piping.
The partnership has seen them donate 10 units across the four counties as well as 20 cartons of Dettol Bar soaps.
Global Handwashing Day is a global advocacy day dedicated to increase awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives.
This year’s theme – “Hand Hygiene for All”– is a reminder to work toward universal access to clean water and sanitation and practice of handwashing with soap now more than ever.
“KBL has been committed to improving the livelihoods of communities in which we source, operate and sell as part of our mission to Build Thriving Communities across our value chain.
This initiative is also in line with our commitment to improve access to clean water, hygiene and sanitation in the communities we operate in,” said KBL Head of Sustainability and Engagement Arnolda Shiundu.
“Our partnership with Reckitt Benckiser is timely as an empowerment tool for these communities in the prevention of the spread of Covid-19.
In addition, the products will go a long way to help mitigate outbreaks of other diseases in this region, which was identified as having the highest prevalence of water-borne diseases in the country last year,” She added.
“One of the most effective ways to stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus is hand hygiene, especially through handwashing with soap for about twenty seconds.
To beat the virus today and ensure better health outcome beyond the pandemic, handwashing with soap must be a priority and we are here today to ensure that these communities have access to the necessary facilities,” said Ibrahim Kabir, Reckitt Benckiser Country Manager for East Africa.
Center for Disease Control Statistics have shown that eighty percent of common infections are spread by hands and that washing hands with soap and water could reduce diarrheal disease-associated deaths by up to 50% and respiratory illnesses like colds by 16-20%.
