Working worldwide to prevent the spread of infections

As a global market leader in hygiene and health, we provide education and equipment for good hand hygiene to millions around the world.

 

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common infectious disease in children between the ages 0-6 years, and affected over 2.5 million people in China and Taiwan in 2008. Studies indicate that good hand hygiene habits can significantly reduce the occurrence of HFMD. High activity of HFMD has remained in the years following and in light of this, we partnered with the Shenzhen Center of Disease Control and Rotterdam Erasmus University Hospital in 2015, to improve hand hygiene in 18 preschools with over 8000 children in Shenzhen, China. We provided education on proper hand hygiene to both children, teachers and parents, as well as quality soap and paper dispensers from Tork. After six months, the risk of Hand Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) had been reduced by 60%. An important component of the Shenzhen training was the Ella handwashing toolkit, which along with all other materials, was translated into Chinese. Developed by the Tork brand and as part of their hygiene program, the Ella handwashing toolkit is specially developed to teach children aged 2-6 years about how to wash their hands correctly. The toolkit includes an interactive app, a story book, posters and more, all with the same purpose to teach young children to wash their hands in a playful and intuitive way. But the material is also developed with the aim to make it fun for the staff to teach the children. For older children between the ages of 6-12 years, Tork also has a toolkit that focuses on when and why to wash and wipe your hands, which is the next step to ensure they wash their hands at the right times.

“We believe in the importance of shaping good habits early, especially when it comes to hand hygiene. That’s why we developed a free toolkit, available worldwide, to help teach young children how to wash their hands in a fun way,” says Jenny Logenius, Global Brand Innovation Manager at Tork and Essity.

 

The toolkit app, Ella’s handwashing adventure, has been downloaded for free in over 108 countries. It has been successfully used in Mexico as part of numerous projects, including improving hand hygiene among children in impoverished communities in Mexico City. 

 

“Handwashing is the most important, as well as the easiest and most practical practice to prevent infections spreading through the contact of one person to another. Good handwashing habits are especially vital in Mexico, where gastrointestinal problems and respiratory problems are very common,” says Dr. Antonio Arista, Doctor of Pediatrics, Mexico City General Hospital, who has also collaborated with Essity on handwashing.

 

Hand hygiene issues are also a major concern in more developed countries, in particularly the spreading of infections. 20% of respiratory infections (e.g., the common cold) can be prevented through handwashing.

 

We believe we have a major role to play in raising the bar for global hygiene standards. We are dedicated to making a difference by continuing to support schools globally by sharing knowledge, educating and equipping them with quality, safe and secure hygiene products.