Cleaning, positive behavioural changes can prevent disease-ridden environments

As Nigeria battles with outbreak of meningitis and Lassa fever, recording hundreds of deaths this year, a leading hygiene solution brand, HYPO has partnered with the Lagos State Government, to sensitise the public on household and environment hygiene as a preventive measure against diseases.

The exercise, “Team Up to Clean Up” was part of activities to mark this year’s World Health Day, as residents of Ifelodun Community in Bariga, participated in the clean-up exercise clearing the streets and drainages in the community to enhance their wellbeing.

Timothy Arowosegbe, marketing manager, Hypo said being the leading brand in the category of household cleaning. Sanitation is geared towards the protection and promotion of public health which meant the improvement of the environment and we recognize our responsibility to the society through this, therefore deemed it right to make contributions to the betterment of the society.

“The initiative is aimed at cleaning, sensitising and influencing positive behavioural changes towards good hygiene and sanitation habits in the people in order to maintain environmental hygiene so as to prevent disease-ridden environments.

“Hypo has become a phenomena household brand and there are no better ways to give back to its consumers than through this initiative of influencing a positive behaviour for hygiene in the residents of communities,” said Arowosegbe.

He further disclosed that poor sanitation kills around 5,250,000 children (under five) every year around the world.

“Sadly, Nigeria is one of the contributors to the most number of child deaths due to poor sanitation disease globally. Statistics by World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF in 2015, approximately 2.4 billion people live in poor sanitation conditions.

“Cleanliness is not a choice; to stay healthy; cleanliness must be imbibed as an essential way of life. If we have a cleaner environment, there is a good chance that most of the avoidable diseases tormenting us like malaria, typhoid, dysentery and Lassa fever would be far away and this can only be achieved through individual responsibility to manage the waste generate on a daily basis by disposing them the right way,” said Arowosegbe.

Also speaking at the event, Babatunde Musa, Ifelodun local Council Development Area (LCDA) Bariga Chairman, explained that the decision to partner with Hypo was to collaborate with a health inclined brand that has the wellbeing of the community as their number one desire through the realisation of a clean and healthy nation.

“We believe that Hypo has started with the introduction of affordable bleach for all and also affirmed that this would definitely not be the last partnership between the company and the community,” he said.

The clean-up exercise led by popular Nollywood actress Fathia Williams gained huge participation by immediate residents as everyone joined hands using Hypo products to clear the gutters with unprecedented enthusiasm.

While appealing to parents, women and guardians as a mother, Fathia places an emphasis on the importance of healthy living through good public health practices that influences and impact on the physical environment and sanitation of the community.

Hypo, a division of Tolaram Africa Enterprises Ltd provided clean-up tools such as latex hand gloves rakes, nose mask, shovels, stick brushes, bowls, buckets, brooms, parkers, and sanitary waste bags and doled out hypo bleach products to residents.

ANTHONIA OBOKOH