Over 650,000 pupils to benefit from expanded hygiene programme

At least 650,000 additional pupils are expected to benefit from hygiene education and practical handwashing skills under the third phase of the Dettol Hygiene Quest initiative, which will extend the programme to 750 more schools across Uganda.

The initiative, launched in 2024 by Reckitt’s Dettol brand in partnership with the ministry of Education and Sports and CHIL Hygiene Centre, seeks to promote proper hygiene practices among pupils to help prevent infections at school, at home and in their communities.

According to the organisers, the programme has so far reached more than one million children in 1,500 schools across the country, including in Gulu, Kampala and Isingiro.

The third phase will build on these gains through hygiene education, practical handwashing demonstrations, teacher support and learning materials designed to help pupils adopt good hygiene practices in their daily lives.

Speaking at the launch, Reckitt’s country manager for Uganda, Bornface Shaka Onyari, said the new phase would expand the programme’s reach while helping schools sustain the practices introduced.

“Through Phase III of Dettol Hygiene Quest, we aim to reach 750 more schools while helping them establish and sustain good hygiene practices that benefit learners long after the programme ends,” Onyari said.

He added that working with the government and other partners would help children develop healthy habits that could influence hygiene practices in their families and communities.

The programme also uses digital technology to support teaching and assess learning outcomes. Through Keti, an artificial intelligence-powered Dettol Hygiene Quest chatbot, teachers can access guidance on incorporating hygiene topics into lessons and making them more engaging for pupils.

The third phase will also focus on encouraging schools to maintain hygiene standards beyond the programme’s implementation period.

Organisers say previous phases have shown signs of increased ownership, with some schools purchasing their own hygiene supplies to sustain the improvements introduced through the initiative.

Representing the state minister for Water, Aisha Sekindi commended Reckitt and its partners for supporting efforts to create healthier school environments, describing hygiene and access to proper sanitation as matters of national importance.

However, she cautioned that the programme’s success should not be measured solely by the number of schools reached, but also by the behavioural changes achieved and the sustainability of hygiene facilities.

“I commend Reckitt and partners for creating healthier schools because this is an issue of national importance. Hygiene is very essential and access to proper sanitation is fundamental,” Sekindi said.

“However, success of this initiative should not be about the schools reached but about the behaviour change registered and the sustainability of the facilities put in place. The community should as well take responsibility of the facilities and use them correctly and consistently.”

Dettol will continue working with the ministries of Health and Education and CHIL Hygiene Centre through coordinated implementation, stakeholder engagement and support for hygiene education.

The partners say they hope to combine their expertise, resources and networks to strengthen hygiene education in schools and help pupils maintain healthy habits beyond the programme.

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