NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Speaking during the donation of soaps by Lifebuoy to UNICEF, Corporate Relations Manager, Mr. Yemi Adeboye stated the reasons for the donation, “we are aware of recent outbreak of cholera in Lagos, Ogun, Zamfara, Gombe and Jigawa, which has led to loss of more than 100 lives. More than 70 per cent of those who died are children below the age of five.”

He said there is consistent evidence that handwashing with soap at critical times – before eating of preparing food and after using the toilet – can reduce Cholera risk by 70 per cent and acute respiratory infections (ARI’s), by 50 per cent. Handwashing with soap has been cited as one of the most cost-effective interventions to prevent cholera.