Airtel, Unilever, Dental Association partner to boost oral hygiene among students

Leading telecoms operator, Airtel Nigeria, has collaborated with manufacturer of home and personal care goods, Unilever, alongside the Nigerian Dental Association (NDA) to promote oral hygiene among students in Nigeria.

L-R: Assistant CSR Manager, Airtel, Chioma Okolie; Regional Operations Director, Airtel, Lagos Region, Oladokun Oye, member, Nigerian Dental Association (NDA), Abu Dorcas; Vice President, Licensing, Compliance and Carrier Relations, Airtel, Sola Adeyemi with a student of Oremeji Primary School II demonstrating how to brush during the Airtel-Unilever Oral Health Hygiene programme in Lagos……recently

Through the CSR health awareness programme, which kicked off Thursday, November 5th, 2015 at Oremeji Primary School II, Ajegunle, Lagos the telco and its partners are educating primary school students across Nigeria on how to stay healthy through oral hygiene.

Students and teachers of Oremeji Primary School II, one of Airtel’s adopted schools in Nigeria, gladly received the awareness campaign team comprising Airtel’s staff and representative from the Nigerian Dental Association (NDA).

Speaking on the initiative, Regional Operations Director, Lagos Region, Airtel, Mr. Adedokun Oye, noted that the telco has taken a step further to care for Nigerian children by ensuring their health and well-being through proper oral hygiene in order to bring out the best in them.

“Airtel and Unilever are providing kids in schools with gift items like tooth brushes, toothpastes and leaflets that offer tips on oral hygiene. When children stay healthy, it will be easier for them to learn,” he said.

Brand Building Director, Unilever Nigeria, David Okeme, noted that Unilever’s global oral care social missions is to improve the oral health of 100 million people by 2020 by convincing them to brush day and night to stay healthy and happy, and live a more enjoyable and fulfilled life.

“In partnership with the Nigerian Dental Association, Universal Basic Education Board and the Federal Ministry of Health, Pepsodent is committed to improving the oral health of 10 million children in Nigeria by 2020 through the Brush Day & Night schools’ programme, and one million school children will be reached directly in 2015. We believe kids can change the world by adopting healthy oral habits and they can convince their parents to do same,” he added.

Dr. Abu Dorcas from the Nigerian Dental Association (NDA) took the children through a brief session on how to maintain oral hygiene. She encouraged the children to always brush daily, morning and night, using fluoridated toothpaste. “It is important to stay away from sweet and sugary things in order to maintain oral hygiene. Eat more fruits and vegetables, drink sufficient water. More importantly, try and see a dentist every six months,” she said.

Head Teacher, Oremeji Pry. School II, Mrs. Animashaun Risikat, commended Airtel and Unilever Nigeria for giving priority to the health of students and teachers through the programme.

She said: “This initiative will go a long way to boost the hygiene of both teachers and the students. As we know, health is wealth. If the kids are healthy, they will be happy to learn.”

The students hailed Airtel and Unilever for providing them with toothpaste, toothbrushes and oral health tips. Rachael Elia in primary six said, “I will be brushing in the right way as we were taught by the dentist. It is the proper way to brush. We thank Airtel and Unilever for this.” On his part, Habeeb Isiaka of primary 5 said, “From now, I will try to brush morning and night so that my teeth can be strong and healthy.”

Under the programme, all the students in schools adopted by Airtel Nigeria will be reached with the health awareness campaign. St. John’s Primary School, Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun; Community Primary School, Amumara, Imo; Presbyterian Primary School, Ediba, Cross River and Iyeru-Okin Primary School, Kwara are next in line to benefit from the programme.