The “H for Handwashing: Little Hands, Bright Futures” campaign reiterates Lifebuoy’s mission to instill lifelong handwashing habits and improve personal hygiene care to foster a healthier tomorrow.
Kuala Lumpur, 24 July 2024 – Despite the simplicity of handwashing, it remains critically neglected. This neglect contributes to the spread of communicable diseases such as Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD), which notably increased among Malaysian children in 2023. In a significant effort to improve personal hygiene among the youth, Lifebuoy is supported by the Ministry of Education (MOE), Ministry of Health and Guardian Malaysia to bolster hand hygiene practices in Malaysian schools.
This campaign is part of a broader initiative to educate children on the importance of handwashing with soap. With the support of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health, the “H for Handwashing: Little Hands, Bright Futures” held at SK AU Keramat included a Glo-Germ demonstration by Dr Aen Saari. One of its targeted hygiene education programs showcased how germs are invisible to the naked eye and taught schoolchildren the 7-step handwashing routine. The demonstration also highlighted the importance of washing your hands with soap, taking Lifebuoy one step closer to their ongoing mission of instilling lifelong handwashing habits from a young age.
Lifebuoy’s H for Handwashing program targets schools, as they play a crucial role in instilling lifelong healthy habits. For over a decade, the integration of hand hygiene education into students’ daily routines has been supported by the Ministry of Education with the aim to embed these practices from a young age. Hand hygiene is essential for maintaining a healthy learning environment. One of the main concerns is student absenteeism due to illness, which significantly impacts their future. Therefore, the program modules were co-developed with the Ministry of Health to ensure accurate knowledge sharing to teach children the importance of proper handwashing with soap while reducing instances of absenteeism due to illness and promoting better academic performance.
Nurturing the Future of Hand Hygiene from the Early Years
Despite the simplicity of handwashing, many people have yet to adopt the habit of handwashing. However, recent studies showed that habits can form within 18 days with continuous practiceI, Lifebuoy’s ongoing mission has led to implementing targeted hygiene education programs to instill lifelong handwashing habits from a young age, fostering a healthier future through sustained behavioral change.
Lenny Chuah, Head of Country, Unilever Malaysia and Country Business Unit Lead of Personal Care in Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, stated, “Hand hygiene is a simple yet powerful tool to prevent illness. We are proud to be working closely with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health towards a common goal of teaching children alike about the importance of good handwashing habits and protecting them from harmful germs so they do not miss a single day of school and life’s important moments. Our programs are designed to create a community of care, extending essential hygiene education to not only reinforce good handwashing habits among the children but also to empower the teachers to become actively involved in students’ development, including hygiene-related behaviors. We hope this partnership will continue to make significant strides towards achieving our goal of reaching 1,000,000 students by the year 2025 and raising awareness of the importance of good hand hygiene.”
Retail Collaboration with Guardian
Guardian is also supporting Lifebuoy by donating Guardian Vitamin C Gummies as part of their care packs. Chan Shu Chien, Category Senior Manager (Personal Care), Guardian Malaysia shared, “At Guardian, we believe in the power of community and the importance of nurturing good health habits from a young age. That’s why we are running the “Purchase with Purpose” campaign with Lifebuoy in our stores to support hygiene education for students in Malaysia. This initiative aligns with our commitment to promoting public health through education and accessible hygiene products. We are proud to be part of this effort and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the lives of these young students.”
For nearly a decade, Unilever, through Lifebuoy, has been promoting handwashing with soap among Malaysians, keeping families one step ahead of harmful germs. This includes mobilizing hygiene education programs in communities and schools and donating hygiene care products to bridge access to hand hygiene for underprivileged areas. Since 2015, Lifebuoy’s outreach in Malaysia has reached 850,000 students, aiming for one million students by 2025. These efforts are set to prepare children not only for academic success but also for overall healthier lives.
