Global consumer goods company Reckitt Benckiser (RB) has announced plans to invest in Hand hygiene facilities in a bid to bridge the sink to bed ratio deficit in the country.
RB Country Manager Kenya Ibrahim Kabir says hand hygiene is critical component in the provision of high quality healthcare.
“The need for effective hand hygiene is even more urgent during this coronavirus pandemic,” said Ibrahim Kabir, RB Country Manager Kenya.
The company is providing five handwashing stations to Mama Lucy Hospital.
In addition, to promote hygiene and curb the spread of corona virus, RB is donating 22 cartons of Dettol Bar Soap, five cartons to Mama Lucy health facility, and another 17 cartons, 1 carton to each of the 17 Nairobi sub-counties.
The donation of hand washing units, is aimed at combating Covid-19 pandemic that has so far as well as Dettol soap, is being made as part of Dettol’s plans to mark this year’s Global Handwashing Day which is aptly themed “Hand Hygiene for All.”
These handwashing units, each with a capacity of 100 liters of water, will be stocked with Dettol soap. The units have a foot pump, drainage bucket, and piping.
“These Dettol handwashing units are part of our commitment to make hand hygiene accessible to all. Universal hand hygiene will help not only curb coronavirus, but also prevent other diseases caused by germs,” he added.
In sub-Saharan Africa, 84 percent of hospitals had hand hygiene facilities at points of care but among lower level health facilities this fell to 64 percent, according to a study by the World Health Organization.
The WHO recommends a 1:10 sink to bed ratio in healthcare facilities and handwashing stations within 5 meters of toilets. Further, sinks or handwashing stations should be designed to make handwashing user-friendly for all staff, patients, and visitors.
Dr Josephine Kabiru, Director for Health Services from Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) said:
“We are thankful to Dettol for this partnership. The current COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the central role hand hygiene plays in combating the virus. It is a timely reminder of the need to take immediate action on hand hygiene across all public and private settings to respond and control the COVID-19 pandemic.”
