Unilever Ghana Limited has organized a health walk to launch a campaign to encourage children to brush their teeth twice daily. The launch is to usher in World Oral Health Day which is marked on March 20, annually.
The theme for this year’s celebration is “Say Ahh; Think Mouth, Think Health”. An estimated 60 percent of children absent themselves from school due to tooth related issues. According to the World Health Organization, poor oral health is more predominant among adults, but its impact on the education and quality of life of children is severe.
The campaign by Unilever, producers of Pepsodent toothpaste, is an annual one with the company reaching out to more than 75 million children globally through school programs over the past 25 years.
Speaking to Starrfmonline.com during the health walk up the Aburi Mountains, Managing Director Unilever Ghana, Ziobeietan Yeo said, “For us, a way of contributing to a better Ghana is to ensure that people don’t drop out of school because of toothache or tooth decay. Over the past two years, we’ve educated 4 million children on the benefit of brushing day and night”.
The company also provided free health screening for its staff and other members of the public who took part in the walk. Unilever Ghana is targeting to educate 10 million children by 2020 on the benefit of brushing their teeth twice daily.
Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com/103.5FM/Tawakalitu Braimah