Pretoria – The Springboks have partnered with Dettol – the cleaning disinfectant and antiseptic – to drive the importance of good health and hygiene in vulnerable communities.
The partnership forms part of the recently launched Hygiene Quest Schools Program, which aims to reach one million school children every year, with a focus given to Early Childhood Development Centres and Special Needs schools.
“The objective of our partnership is to drive hand hygiene education, and with the Springboks being the Rugby World Champions, they personify the advocacy for good health and hygiene,” Dettol says.
The partnership – as the Springboks prepare for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France in September – also furthers Dettol’s objective to reduce the burden of diarrhoea in South Africa.
Dettol says at this stage, it was more important than ever to ensure fundamental hygiene measures were in place to help protect the 41-player South Africa Rugby Championship training squad and supporters from all kinds of possible infections.
This partnership with Dettol will give the Springboks added advantage to ensure they remain vigilant in this area.
“Our collaboration with SA Rugby is an exciting one since we both share the common objective to help protect the players and supporters of the game,” said Umar Khan, Marketing Director Reckitt South Africa.
“The partnership also furthers our objective to reduce the burden of diarrhoea in South Africa and help drive education on handwashing.
“The Dettol brand is built on trust, scientific efficacy, and educating consumers to help break the chain of infection.”
Dettol was developed in the 1930s as a hygiene formulation for use in hospitals by doctors and nurses.
Over time the brand has become a global byword for household disinfection.
“We’re delighted to welcome a new partner to the SA Rugby family, especially one that is at the forefront of promoting good hygiene practices, following the lessons we have hopefully learned from the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Jurie Roux, CEO of SA Rugby when the partnership was sealed in October last year.
As a result of the partnership, Dettol hand sanitising stations will become a common sight at national team matches while Springbok men and women players will feature in the promotion of safe hygiene practices.
Last month, in celebration of Youth Month, the Springboks teamed up with their Official Partners, Food Forward SA, Freddy Hirsch, and Dettol SA at the Kungwini Welfare Organisation in Pretoria, working hand in hand in collaboration through the preparation of 200 meals, as well as interacting with the residents and driving hand hygiene advocacy to the community.
