Unilever Supports Government In The Fight Against Water Bourne Diseases

Unilever Ghana limited has donated 120 units of Pure-it Water Purifying devices valued at 50,000 Ghana Cedis to the Ministry of Health, as part of Unilever�s Sustainable Living Plan goal of reaching 500 million people with safe drinking water. The support package includes Pure-it Water Purifiers, Pure-it Support Stands, and Germ-Kill refill kits. The package would be allocated to support the Ghana Health Service at district and regional hospitals. Speaking at a short ceremony in Accra, the Head of Corporate Affairs at Unilever Ghana, Mr. Gabriel Opoku-Asare said, Unilever�s commitment to children�s health and creating access to safe drinking water for Ghanaians informed their decision to donate the purifiers to the Ministry. He added, water is the source of life but almost 2 billion people don't have access to clean drinking water. Preventable water-borne diseases, such as dysentery and diarrhoea are a particular threat to the weakest members of society and a child dies from water-related illness every 20 seconds. Ghana is home to more than 24million people, rapidly urbanizing, yet majority of Ghanaian�s lack access to safe and affordable drinking water. Pure-it is a great innovation that meets the consumer needs of affordable and safe drinking water across Africa. Receiving the package, the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Victor Bampoe said Unilever Ghana has shown its leadership in meeting social needs through innovative products. He also expressed his gratitude for the package and called for more support from other organisations. The Director General of Ghana Health Service, Dr Ebenezer Appiah Denkyira said access to safe drinking water is a challenge in most cities and towns throughout the country and believes the provision of this device in hospitals will help provide patients with clean water to improve their health and quick recovery. The product was conceptualized in India in 2008. It uses four stages of purification to guarantee water is germ-free, colourless, odourless and tasteless. It stated that it offered water with complete germ protection using a replaceable germ kill kit, thus, ending jaundice, diarrhoea, typhoid and cholera. Pure-it performance had been tested by leading national and international medical and scientific institutions. Unilever Ghana has over the years distinguished itself as the leader in corporate social responsibility through various programs and interventions to help create a brighter future for Ghanaians.