Toothpaste brand, Pepsodent, in collaboration with Nigeria Dental Association, says it has kicked off its school activation programme in primary schools across the nation to promote oral health education in Nigeria.
In a statement, the firm claimed school activation programme titled ‘Pepsodent Brush Day and Night School Programme’ was targeted at educating and reaching a minimum of 2 million pupils between the age of 6 and 11 in six states, including Lagos, Rivers, Enugu, Imo, Kaduna, and Edo.
Speaking during the kick-off of the activation programme held at St. Saviour Primary School in Lagos, Marketing Head, Beauty and Wellbeing and Personal Care, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Oiza Gyang, noted that the oral hygiene programme had been designed to engage children in primary schools for the next three months after which students would be rewarded for their full participation.
On the mechanism of the 21-day challenge, Gyang stated that the activation would happen five days a week while the activation team would return after 21 days to reward students who complete the challenge.
Gyang said, “The whole idea about this challenge is to encourage young kids to imbibe the habits of good oral behaviour. As you are aware, Oral health is critical to any individual’s well-being and productivity. We are passionate about families and children, and we believe that complete oral protection for the family is achievable. We believe that with this activation and the level of awareness we are creating, a lot of young pupils would see the significance of having good oral hygiene.”
She further stressed that the activation programme aimed to encourage oral behavioural change among young school kids, which would lead to their general well-being and good quality of life.
According to her, the goal of the activation programme is to reach as many children as possible with the critical message of brushing twice daily with Pepsodent Triple Protection to protect against cavities and ensure fresh breath and white teeth.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Category Manager of Oral Care, Pepsodent, Eva Ogudu, stated that Unilever as a company remained a force for good in the quest to entrench a culture of oral hygiene that would consequently lead to the overall well-being of Nigerians.
Ogudu noted that the activation was being carried out in line with the mission of spreading outstanding oral health around the world such that people can unlock the power of their smiles.
She further stated that the company’s ambitious target was to reach 10 million children by 2025, disclosing that the campaign had reached over 6 million school children nationwide.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Nigerian Dental Association, Lagos Chapter, Dr Oluwole Olusanya, stressed the need for parents and caregivers to inculcate the habits of regular brushing of teeth among their children relatively early to keep bacteria under control and consequently prevent oral infections such as tooth decay or gum diseases.
