Tropik Industries, Unilever launch 2015 school programme

The second edition of the sensitization of school children in the primary cycle to inculcate the spirit of hygiene of the mouth and body to promote good health at an early age and assure the economic well-being of the nation, organized by TROPIK INDUSTRIES Cameroon representing Unilever, in collaboration with the National Association of Dentists, was launched at the SAWA hotel on January 14, in an upbeat mood.

Talking to government, school, political and traditional stakeholders present, the Chief Executive Officer, Mme Adele Kamtchuang disclosing the 2014 balance sheet of the pilot project in Douala alone, stated that 50,000 pupils were involved in all the schools contacted,36 resource persons were trained who later transferred responsibilities to 117 teachers to continue the exercise of which 441 cartons of signal toothpaste and 441 Lifebuoy toilet soaps were distributed for the facilitation of the project.

In collaboration with the National Association of Dentists represented by Mme Susan BEHLE, these children were evaluated after 21 days through official time-table taken home which explained that children were to brush twice daily after eating and not before. Hands are to be washed five times a day according to pathological details presented by Dr.susan Behle. All children who participated were motivated with attestations and gifts.

As for the 2015 project commencing on January 17, there is an expansion of territory to include Douala and Yaounde, after which the project will progressively cover all the regions.

They are to increase participation of school children to 80.000, an increase of 75% and to recruit 1.300 teachers for sensitization. She appealed to directors, head teachers and parents for their greater participation so that the project can be more impacting. «A clean mouth and body is very important for our health and the national economic, » the C.E.O concluded.

The representative of the Dentist Association in commending TROPIK detailed the necessity for children at an early age to be initiated with good hygienic habits so that as they grow older, they grow with the habits.

She stressed that unlike what people do, it is better to brush each time after eating than before eating. For those who cannot do so because they are at work or in a similar situation they can brush twice a day and also apply chewing gum without sugar, when at work, after meals.