Hygiene standards
In developing countries, Unilever aims to satisfy the needs of some of the world's lowest income consumers. A key issue of long-term importance for the company is to raise standards of hygiene for its consumers; it is able to do this in many countries through sales of Lifebuoy soap.The ready availability of soap — one of the most fundamental products associated with hygiene — is acknowledged to have an immediate impact on improving the health of poor people. Clean hands stop the spread of germs, while clean skin helps prevent skin diseases.
Marginalised people
Bangladesh suffers from huge land pressure and high population density. Under such conditions, the poor find themselves more and more marginalised. Many are forced to make their homes in the dangerous low-lying areas alongside the country’s rivers and river deltas. Known locally as ‘chars’, these riverside regions are always the first to flood or suffer the effects of Bangladesh’s frequent droughts and cyclones.
Lack of services
The char-dwellers usually have no post offices, health centres or even electricity. They depend on boats to ferry them to the mainland, which can sometimes be up to eight kilometres away.
Unilever Bangladesh identified these underprivileged and isolated riverside communities as a priority area for its community investment.
A floating hospital
So what did UBL do? UBL worked with a small NGO named "Friendship" on the innovative idea of establishing a floating hospital to bring essential health services to the char-dwellers.
The Lifebouy Friendship Hospital was launched in 2002. Follow the link below to read more about the hospital.
