Submitted by:S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
Categories:Corporate Governance
Posted: Dec 05, 2006 – 06:03 AM EST
Understanding Of Disease Prevention Seven Times Higher Among Those Reached by Comprehensive Malaria Education Program
To date, it has reached 600,000 South Africans with health messages for malaria prevention and treatment. Based on an assessment conducted during the program, community member understanding of malaria prevention options increased seven times and recognition of the signs and symptoms of malaria increased nine times following participation in the education program.
SC Johnson launched the Healthy Children, Healthy Homes initiative in 2004 in three South African provinces with endemic malaria - Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Kwazulu-Natal. The initiative delivers malaria education to school children and community members in order to improve knowledge about the disease, teach prevention methods, identify symptoms and encourage those with malaria to comply with prescribed medical treatment. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 350 to 500 million cases of malaria occur worldwide each year - five times as many cases of tuberculosis, AIDS and measles combined. Malaria kills over one million people each year, most of whom are children under five and 90 percent of whom live in Africa, south of the Sahara.
"We know the Healthy Children, Healthy Homes program is working to help people in these malaria-affected provinces protect themselves and prevent the transmission of this highly preventable disease," said Scott Johnson Vice President Global Environmental & Safety Actions for SC Johnson. "Through a combination of education and prevention techniques we are improving the lives of families in malaria-stricken communities and making a healthy difference for future generations."
Based on an assessment conducted during the program, 74 percent of school children and 81 percent of adults who received this training could name at least three effective methods for prevention following participation in the education program, as compared with 15 percent and 13 percent respectively before participation. Prior to the education program, more than 60 percent of adults and children could not provide a reason to comply with medication to treat malaria. Following education session participation, that number stood at just 12 percent.
"South Africa's Malaria Control Program has been quite successful in establishing procedures for mosquito control. However, it was looking to improve its outreach and communications approaches with communities in at-risk areas," said Eugene Brantly, malaria program director at RTI International. "The partners on this project collaborated to develop a malaria outreach program that has now been integrated into South Africa's mainstream health promotion efforts and will continue to reach people in malaria affected areas of the country. We were pleased to work with SC Johnson on this effort".
Program materials, messages and associated delivery methods for the program were tested with target community members and school children to ensure comprehension, acceptability, relevance, and appropriateness. Key to the initiative is the training of community health workers and teachers who deliver the education sessions at schools, community events and gatherings. The training focuses on improving knowledge of malaria messages and also equips trainers with the skills for delivery these messages effectively. Education session presentations are highly visual and interactive, featuring small prizes for community members who can answer questions about malaria prevention. Prizes have included interactive games, posters, t-shirts, and calendars branded under SC Johnson's Raid® pest control brand.
As the leading global marketer of household insecticides and repellents SC Johnson is committed to developing innovative effective protection from mosquito-borne diseases and is working to make these products accessible to consumers around the world.
SC Johnson is a family-owned and managed business dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, personal care and insect control. It markets such well-known brands as EDGE®, GLADE®, OFF!®, PLEDGE®, RAID®, SCRUBBING BUBBLES®, SHOUT®, WINDEX® and ZIPLOC® in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN®, BAYGON®, BRISE®, ECHO®, KABIKILLER®, KLEAR®, and MR. MUSCLE®. The 120-year old company, with $7 billion in sales, employs approximately 12,000 people globally and sells products in more than 110 countries.
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