The pandemic has made hygiene the new health. Adopting and maintaining good hygiene practices have taken utmost priority in society.
By Rusen Kumar
NEW DELHI (India CSR): Reckitt launched a Hygiene Olympiad to promote behavioural change in hygiene among children, the company said.
The initiative is aiming to influence lakhs of children.
The program will motivate them to enhance reasoning, analytical and problem-solving skills in the context of hygiene.
Open to children between 5 to 15 years of age, the Olympiad experience will help students understand the interdependency between hygiene, health, and keeping loved ones protected, the company added.
Curated by the Indian Talent Olympiad, the programme will be implemented with the support of Jagran, a media company, and other social sector partners.
“An independent evaluation of the Dettol Hygiene School programme in 2021 has found a 57% Reduction in school absenteeism, over the 39% reduction found in 2020.”, the company statement said.
“In addition, children’s knowledge of handwashing has improved by 61% and their sanitation practice has increased by 62%.” it also added.
It is intended that the Hygiene Olympiad will help in building awareness among parents, teachers, and children on addressing their hygiene literacy gaps and work towards further improving handwashing practices, helping further reduce school absenteeism and promoting pro-hygiene behaviours.
Olympiad represents academic brilliance and a solid knowledge base of students while highlighting areas that require attention.
The initiative will also Identify ‘Hygiene Champions/Leaders’ who may become advocates of good hygiene in schools and districts.
These leaders will be given an opportunity to address vital topics like reduction in school absenteeism, reduction in illness, and living in a healthier and happier home.
The exams will be conducted and winners will be felicitated in person.
Reckitt has been focusing on sensitizing children about six critical occasions for handwashing – washing hands after defecation, and the use of toilets; before eating; before preparing and serving food; before feeding infants/children; after cleaning a child’s bottom, and after coughing/sneezing during illness.
(Rusen Kumar, Indian journalist, writes regularly on CSR and Sustainability.)
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