Unilever Thailand and UNICEF join hands to fight COVID-19

BANGKOK, 30 March 2019 - Unilever Thailand and UNICEF have joined forces to fight the COVID-19 pandemic through the distribution of more than 150,000 hand sanitizers and bars of soap to help protect vulnerable children and young people across the country.

These critical supplies (comprising of 30,000 hand sanitizers and 120,000 bars of soap), form part of the response of  UNICEF Thailand to the pandemic, ensuring that children and young people, especially the most vulnerable, have necessary supplies to frequently and correctly wash their hands - a crucial step to protect themselves and curb the pandemic.

These items will be distributed to vulnerable children and young people living in welfare and protection centres, residential care institutions and those accessing migrant learning centres, juvenile observation and protection centres and juvenile training centres, as well as early childhood development centres and schools.

Globally, COVID-19 has infected over half a million people and claimed the lives of many. The pandemic has forced economies to shut down, and turned lives upside down, especially of the poorest and the most vulnerable in our society. In Thailand, the virus is spreading rapidly with a sharp increase in cases recorded over the past week.

“The crisis is unprecedented, and this means that we must reach every child in need, everywhere,” said Thomas Davin, UNICEF Representative for Thailand. “This is just the beginning of a much larger challenge that needs everyone to respond together as a whole society. We hope that many more private sector partners follow in the footsteps of Unilever, so that we respond to this pandemic as one, each contributing their knowhow, resources, and skills”.

“The critical supplies of soap and hand sanitizers donated by Unilever will help UNICEF support some of the most vulnerable populations nationwide. The children and young people, as well as their caretakers and social workers, who will be benefiting from this distribution are at increased risk because their resources are already stretched. We must do all we can to support the amazing people who still go out every day to help and protect others. Now more than ever, such hygiene items are essential to save their lives.” added Davin.

Rob Candelino, Unilever Thailand CEO, said: “Unilever products are vital in helping Thais protect themselves from the spread of COVID-19 so we are partnering with UNICEF to immediately make these available to children in need. This donation is the first of several that Unilever will make in Thailand and is part of a broader initiative announced last week wherein Unilever will be allocating 20 Billion THB in donations and relief funding around the world.

“Unilever has proudly served and supported the people of Thailand for more than 87 years and we are today one of the largest providers of essential consumer products such as detergents, soaps, sanitizers and lotions and foods in the country. We very much hope that our efforts will inspire others to join this fight and together we will help slow down the spread of this deadly virus in Thailand and around the globe.”

UNICEF has been disseminating life-saving information materials on measures to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 through mass media and social media channels. UNICEF Thailand is also planning to distribute digital handheld thermometers to schools and early childhood development centres; develop guidance on safe school operation to facilitate the return of children to school in the coming months; provide information kits to migrant communities in 20 provinces, and support the strengthening of social safety net support for vulnerable families who are affected by the economic impact of the outbreak.

Globally, UNICEF is appealing for US$651.6 million, to fund our COVID-19 response including in countries with weak healthcare systems. In these settings, UNICEF is working with partners to provide essential hygiene and medical kits to schools and health clinics; share accurate information on how to keep families safe; and strengthen protection services, psychosocial support and remote learning opportunities for all children especially the most vulnerable.

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Join the fight against CODIV-19 by donating to UNICEF Thailand’s efforts:

• Online: https://www.unicef.or.th/soap  
• Bank Transfer: Bangkok Bank Account no. 201-3-01324-4
  Please send your contact information (name, address, mobile phone number) together with pay slip to UNICEF and indicate “Soap Covid-19” to unicefthailand@unicef.org

To Join UNICEF’s volunteering programme to help fight COVID-19, please visit: https://www.unicef.org/thailand/i-am-unicef

Find accurate information on how to protect yourself and your loved ones from the virus by visiting: www.unicef.org/coronavirus or www.unicef.or.th

Watch UNICEF’s new video on the 5 steps to avoid COVID-19!  http://bit.do/covid-19vdo