CSR quote of the day on Global Handwashing Day, October 15, 2012.
Paul Polman, Unilever CEO, said: “The big issues the world is facing require new approaches, new business models and new partnerships. Responsible businesses must take a more active leadership role.”
The company is supporting handwashing programmes in Millennium Villages in Ghana and in villages in Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Rwanda, Malawi, Tanzania, Senegal and Uganda that aim to decrease diarrhoeal disease infections helping development goals and saving lives.
Diarrhoea and pneumonia are the two major causes of deaths in the under fives, causing about 30 per cent of child deaths globally. The vast majority of these deaths occur in Sub Saharan Africa and South Asia. Simple hygeine programmes can make a huge difference in reducing the loss of life and suffering.
Numerous NGOs are running initiatives supporting Global Handwashing Day including Care, Muslim Aid, UNICEF and Save the Children.
