This archive report was first published on 14 June 2020.
On June 14, 2020, Reckitt Benckiser Group plc (RB) announced a significant donation to support people living with HIV in Kenya and across Africa.
The company has allocated over US$2.2m worth of Dettol soap and Jik bleach to supply hygiene packs containing a three-month supply of the products to those in need.
This initiative is part of RB's Fight for Access Fund, which aims to improve access to health, hygiene, and nutrition for all.
According to Sachin Varma, Country Manager, East Africa, 'In an effort to stem the effects of the current pandemic during these unprecedented times, we are inspired by our fight to make access to high-quality hygiene a right, not a privilege.'
Varma added that brands like Jik play a critical role in promoting hygiene and surface disinfection, with 30,000 bottles of Jik donated to serve people across Kenya.
UNAIDS will be working closely with communities and networks of people living with HIV, including National Empowerment of Network of People Living with HIV (NEPHAK) and Women Fighting AIDS in Kenya (WOFAK), to facilitate distribution of the hygiene packs.
Medhin Tsehaiu, UNAIDS Country Director in Kenya, stated, 'As we continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in this region, it is important that communities lead and that we put people at the centre.'
Ibrahim Kabir, Country Manager Kenya, emphasized the importance of proper handwashing techniques, saying, 'Dettol has been in the forefront of prompting proper handwashing techniques and this has become even more prevalent now with the COVID-19 pandemic which is spread through person to person contact.'
