“Hygiene is Patriotic”: From a call to action 60 years ago to its continued relevance in modern society

The National Hygiene Movement originated from an article by the late President Ho Chi Minh nearly 60 years ago, urging the entire population to actively participate in hygiene activities to prevent diseases. In response, the Prime Minister decreed that July 2 each year would be recognised as the National Hygiene Movement to improve people’s health.

From 2007 to 2022, Unilever, along with their brands such as Lifebuoy, Vim, P/S, Pureit, and OMO, collaborated with the Ministry of Health (MOH) to implement several key programmes. Through numerous initiatives and activities, ULV and MOH have equipped more than 22 million people with knowledge of personal hygiene habits, such as washing hands with soap, environmental sanitation, communicable disease prevention, and overall health improvement for better disease prevention. As a result, the percentage of people who maintain the habit of washing hands with soap has doubled over the 10 years of implementation.

Recently, on August 13, 2024, ULV, in collaboration with MOH and the People's Committee of Dak Nong Province, organised the “Meeting in response to the National Hygiene Day to improve people’s health 2024”. This annual programme, sponsored by ULV in partnership with MOH, contributes to disease prevention and enhances public health. In addition to the rally, on July 24, 2024, Health & Lifestyle Newspaper and the Vietnam Health Environment Management Agency under MOH, with the support of ULV, launched the first Green-Clean-Beautiful Healthcare Facility Competition. This competition running from July 2024 to July 2025 targets healthcare facilities, provincial health departments, and municipal health departments.

Together, we nurture our common home in the shape of an “S”

ULV’s efforts have significantly improved personal hygiene habits and the living environment. By 2021, the percentage of people washing hands with soap had doubled since 2012, and 98.5 per cent of households now have handwashing facilities or access to soap.

From 2023 to 2028, ULV will collaborate more closely with MOH to improve hygiene and health conditions for 15 million people nationwide, aiming to prevent diseases and promote "For a healthy and sustainable Viet Nam”. For ULV, our common “home” on the S-shaped land needs to be nurtured and developed under the best conditions of health and hygiene.

Mrs. Nguyễn Thị Bích Vân, Head of Country, Unilever Vietnam, giving speech at the event

Mrs. Nguyễn Thị Bích Vân, Head of Country, Unilever Vietnam , emphasised that good health is essential for a sustainable society, with personal hygiene being very crucial. Unilever is dedicated to enhancing hygiene and health in Viet Nam through innovative solutions. The journey to improve sanitation and health is ongoing, and Unilever is committed to its partnership with MOH. Through the Memorandum of Understanding with the Vietnam Health Environment Management Agency, they aim to drive significant results from 2023 to 2028 with the programme “For a healthy and sustainable Viet Nam.”

Building and protecting a “Greener, Cleaner, Healthier, and more Balanced” Viet Nam is a commitment from ULV and a guiding principle for everyone. ULV’s relentless efforts reflect a company that prioritises sustainable social responsibility while inspiring the community and other businesses to take action for a better future. Moving forward, ULV will continue to introduce innovative and groundbreaking solutions to address health and environmental challenges, aiming for a healthier and more sustainable Viet Nam.