At the Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), we believe that hygiene education is not just about handwashing — it is about building healthier futures for children, mothers, and entire communities. With support from our longstanding partner, Reckitt Nigeria, the Dettol Hygiene Quest (DHQ) programme has been working across schools, healthcare facilities, and communities to strengthen hygiene practices and reduce preventable illness.
In August 2025, WBFA convened DHQ Stakeholders’ Meetings in Lagos and Kwara States, bringing together government ministries, agencies, hospital representatives, community leaders, and partners. These gatherings provided a vital opportunity to review progress, share stories of impact, receive stakeholder feedback, and chart the next phase of our collective journey.
The conversations across both meetings carried a consistent theme: hygiene is everyone’s responsibility, and sustainability depends on shared ownership.
Measuring Impact
Since the beginning of 2025, the DHQ programme has reached tens of thousands of Nigerians across multiple settings.
In Lagos: 72 school visits reached 37,990 students; 265 healthcare facility sessions engaged 9,256 mothers; and 31 community activations impacted 2,973 residents.
In Kwara: 100 schools across Asa, Ilorin East, and Ilorin South LGAs reached 26,550 students; 13 healthcare facilities reached 13,082 mothers and trained 331 health workers; and 31 community engagements reached 2,779 people.
Together, this means that in just two states during the first half of 2025, DHQ has already empowered over 64,000 students, 22,000 mothers, 330 health workers, and more than 5,700 community members with lifesaving hygiene knowledge and skills.
Voices of Support
In both Lagos and Kwara, government leaders reaffirmed their support for Dettol Hygiene Quest. Representatives from the Ministries of Health, Education, Environment, and Water Resources, along with local councils, SUBEB officials, and hospital leaders, praised the programme’s role in promoting child health, preventing disease, and strengthening communities.
Community leaders also shared heartfelt testimonies. In Kwara, the women’s leader from Kilanko community thanked WBFA for promoting cleanliness at the grassroots level, while hospital matrons spoke of mothers who had embraced proper handwashing after attending DHQ sessions. These stories underscored what one participant called “the simple power of hand hygiene as the first step in disease prevention.”
Charting the Way Forward
While the achievements are clear, stakeholders also pointed to areas for growth:
- Stronger multi-sectoral collaboration with local government councils to enhance sustainability.
- Integration of DHQ into school curricula so hygiene education becomes embedded for generations to come.
- Expansion to underserved and remote communities, ensuring no child or mother is left behind.
- Sustainability mechanisms such as Hygiene Quest Clubs in schools and stronger community ownership.
WBFA’s programme teams outlined the next steps: concluding Year 2 implementation by September, inducting new DHQ ambassadors, supporting healthcare facilities, and hosting both state and national close-out events in October — all while preparing for the launch of Phase III.
A Shared Vision
The Dettol Hygiene Quest Stakeholders’ Meetings in Lagos and Kwara reaffirmed what WBFA and Reckitt have long believed: lasting change comes from partnership. By engaging students, empowering mothers, training health workers, and collaborating with ministries and communities, we are laying the groundwork for a healthier Nigeria.
As we look ahead, WBFA remains steadfast in its vision — a Nigeria where no child suffers from preventable ill health. With hygiene education at the heart of this mission, and with partners and communities walking alongside us, we are building the knowledge, behaviours, and systems that will safeguard generations to come.
Together, we are not only teaching hand hygiene — we are shaping healthier lives, schools, and communities across Nigeria.