Unilever and Ministry of Health launch campaign to promote hygiene in Việt Nam

Unilever Vietnam’s National Director, Nguyễn Thị Bích Vân, speaking at the event. — Photo courtesy of Unilever Vietnam

ĐẮK NÔNG — Unilever Vietnam, in partnership with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the People’s Committee of Đắk Nông Province, has launched the National Hygiene Day to Improve People’s Health 2024 programme.

This initiative, part of an ongoing collaboration between Unilever and the MOH, seeks to engage government agencies, organisations and communities in improving public health through enhanced hygiene practices.

The event also marked the beginning of the First ‘Green – Clean – Beautiful Healthcare Facility Contest’, a nationwide competition aimed at promoting cleanliness and safety in healthcare settings. The programme emphasises the importance of hygiene in disease prevention and overall health improvement, contributing to the broader goal of building a sustainable health environment across Việt Nam.

Approximately 700 delegates attended the event, including leaders from the MOH, the People’s Committee of Đắk Nông Province and representatives from various health departments and healthcare facilities nationwide.

The campaign is part of a broader strategic cooperation between Unilever and the MOH, entitled ‘For a Healthy and Sustainable Vietnam’, running from 2023 to 2028. This partnership aims to improve hygiene and health conditions for 15 million people nationwide, building on the achievements of previous collaborations that have already reached over 22 million people with hygiene education and resources.

Unilever Vietnam’s National Director, Nguyễn Thị Bích Vân, highlighted the company’s ongoing commitment to the programme.

“Improving sanitation and health conditions for the people of Việt Nam is a long journey, so there is still much work to be done. Therefore, Unilever is committed to continuing our comprehensive partnership with the Ministry of Health,” she said.

In addition to the meeting, the event featured various activities, including the display of posters and banners with slogans promoting hygiene and disease prevention, as well as the publication of related news articles and reports.

Speaking at the event, Assoc. Prof. Dr Nguyễn Thị Liên Hương, Deputy Minister of Health, emphasised the importance of the National Hygiene Movement, noting significant improvements in public hygiene practices over the past decade.

She pointed out that the rate of people washing their hands with soap has doubled and the proportion of households with hygienic latrines has reached 82 per cent, significantly contributing to the reduction of infectious diseases in the country.

The beautiful healthcare contest, launched in July 2024 and running until July 2025, aims to further enhance the quality of health services and public health by promoting the maintenance of clean and safe hospital environments. — VNS