Global Handwashing Day: PZ Cussons, partners, launch month-long campaign

ith the latest outbreak of cholera in the country, PZ Cussions and Concerns Universal, a UK based NGO, are joining forces with some of Nigeria’s top entertainers to inspire a generation of school children that will adopt the life-saving habit of handwashing with soap. The one month-long campaign which will be formally launched next week in Lagos is designed to promote hand hygiene among school children. The Global Handwashing Day is an annual worldwide celebration involving over 200 million people coming together on 15th October every year to promote a simple and life-saving message-“Handwashing with soap saves lives.” According to the Director of Strategic Partnerships, Concerns Universal, Mr Tim Kellow, the key to addressing this situation is to ‘make handwashing a habit. “As habits take up to four weeks to form, we are holding a month-long campaign to engage children with fun and creative activities to promote the handwashing habit. Kellow said at the events billed to hold across Nigeria, children will be inspired by songs recorded exclusively by Sunny Neji and 2Face Idibia, and empowered as ‘Hygiene Heroes. LAUNCH: From left: Campaign Ambassador, Mr. Sunny Neji , Concern Universal, Mr Tim Kellow, Managing Director, PZ Cussons family, Mr Alex Goma and PZ Cussons Foundation Mrs Yomi Ifaturoti during the media launch of the campaign in Lagos. The campaign will reach its climax on Global Handwashing Day in Lagos where Campaign Ambassadors, Sunny Neji will perform alongside his band, comedian Koffi and other special guests. “Throughout October, thousands of children from more than 200 schools will take part in the events across Southern Nigeria. Children will take part in handwashing games and demonstrations that will empower them to return to their schools and communities and spread the campaigns vital message. Schools will also compete to show that they have the ‘CareX Factor’. He explained that the talent competition enables children to get creative about hand washing by performing their own version of Sunny Neji’s campaign anthem ‘Wash Your Hands O’. The events will kick-off in Cross River and Benue States, culminating in a major celebration event in Lagos on Global Handwashing Day, Saturday, 15th October 2016 – where schools will compete against each other for prizes and the chance to perform with their musical heroe. Also speaking, Managing Director, PZ Cussons Family, Mr. Alex Goma, stressed the need for children to realise they need for them to wash their hands.

LAUNCH: From left: Campaign Ambassador, Mr. Sunny Neji , Concern Universal, Mr Tim Kellow, Managing Director, PZ Cussons family, Mr Alex Goma and PZ Cussons Foundation Mrs Yomi Ifaturoti during the media launch of the campaign in Lagos.

Source; Vanguard