Unilever’s Domex Joins Hands with Health Institutions for a Stronger 1 Million Clean Toilets Movement

Children around the world miss an estimated 443 million school days each year. This absenteeism stems from diseases caused by poor sanitation and hygiene practices, including using unsanitary toilets. Just imagine all grade school and high school classrooms in the Philippines being empty for one month. That’s how much this number of sick days is equivalent to! 

Let's all support World Toilet Day!

Despite the many advances in technology and progress, millions of children in rural communities and urban households nationwide are still exposed everyday to many health problems by using dirty toilets populated by disease-carrying germs.

Last November 13, Unilever Philippines, through its leading germ-kill expert cleaner brand Domex, celebrated World Toilet Day 2015 at the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) in Quezon City by announcing a stronger 1 Million Clean Toilets Movement. This advocacy campaign aims to educate a million Filipinos every year on proper toilet hygiene so we can all fight those diseases caused by unsanitary toilets. 

helps save lives, one clean toilet at a time

During its first year, the movement received more than one million pledges from people to keep their toilets clean and sanitized, answering the call for more responsible toilet sanitation. Moreover, with the help of UNICEF, more than 100,000 people are now living in open defecation free communities. Thankfully, improvements in sanitation and hygiene like these are contributing to a healthier environment for children and their families, reducing the risks of sanitation-related diseases.

This 2015, the movement is bigger and better because partners from health institutions and leading hospitals have joined the advocacy through the Philippine Public Health Association. Anna Mangilin, Unilever Marketing Director for Homecare, shared how much they wanted to help people who have suffered the consequences of poor hygiene. “We want to educate them on proper toilet sanitation that will enable them to prevent sickness from happening again.” 

a demo on the cleaning power of regular bleach (left) vs. Domex (right)

The program includes training of hospital housekeeping staff on proper toilet hygiene, as well as distributing educational materials to patients. Dr. Alfonso Nuñez III, EAMC Deputy Quality Management Representative acknowledged, “[This] is very relevant and helpful because the simple act of proper toilet hygiene can help prevent the spread of disease.”

In addition, Unilever partnered with Maxicare to reinforce the 1 Million Clean Toilet Movement’s commitment to educate Filipinos on proper toilet sanitation. As the country’s leading health maintenance organization with an estimated one million members nationwide, Maxicare and its network of doctors can reach more health conscious individuals and encourage them to adopt proper hygiene practices.

how to properly clean your toilet at home

Patients at the Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center, East Avenue Medical Center, Rizal Medical Center, and Maxicare clinics have experienced germ-free toilets and are empowered to have the same for their homes, given the right tools for proper toilet sanitation.

All of these efforts on toilet sanitation are in line with Unilever Philippines’ long-term commitment to the global Unilever Sustainable Living Plan, which aims to improve the health and well-being of two billion people worldwide by 2020.

representatives of partner organizations supporting the 1Million Clean Toilet Movement

Liza Vengco, Unilever Sustainable Business and Communications Manager expressed, “Looking toward 2016, we are confident to educate a million people more as we drive the agenda among the top hospitals and health institutions consistently throughout the year, aiming to fight diseases and save lives, one clean toilet at a time.”