The protocol launches a new phase of the "Protect Your Health with Your Hands and Teeth" campaign, aimed at boosting awareness of oral, dental, and gum health across the governorates of the second phase of Egypt's Universal Health Insurance (UHI) System.
The agreement was signed by Dr. Gamal Ratba, GAH's Head of
the Central Administration for Institutional Support Services, and Tamer
Mahmoud, Head of Personal Care Marketing for Unilever Mashreq.
Dr. El-Sobky confirmed that the protocol renews and expands
the cooperation with Unilever to cover the second phase UHI governorates,
building on prior success. He stressed that focusing on oral health is an investment
in quality of life and the health of future generations, noting that instilling
awareness in children today builds a healthier society tomorrow.
He highlighted the strategic partnership with Unilever, now
in its fourth year, which has resulted in tangible success in five
governorates: Port Said, Luxor, Ismailia, Suez, and Aswan. During the first
phase, the campaign directly reached over 1.5 million citizens through field
activities in UHI governorates, in addition to 18 million citizens via digital
platforms, 68% of whom were children.
El-Sobky stated the new phase aims for a deeper and more
sustainable impact by expanding outreach to include youth in universities and
families, alongside children in schools. The plan also involves integrating
awareness programs into primary healthcare and using mobile clinics to ensure
healthy behaviors are established, reducing the need for costly long-term
curative interventions.
The next phase will focus on measurable impact by applying
"pre- and post-assessment" methodologies in schools to gauge
behavioral change in children’s oral health habits, ensuring accurate
evaluation. The GAH plans to reach 5 million citizens by 2026 by expanding the
initiative to cover more schools, public squares, healthcare units, and
universities.
Jame Yuksel stated that human health and improving quality
of life are key priorities for Unilever. He noted that through their brand,
Signal, they continue to provide innovative solutions that foster healthy
habits. Yuksel added that through systematic awareness programs and strong
partnerships, they have reached nearly 20 million people via field activities
and digital campaigns and look forward to expanding their impact.
Dr. El-Sobky concluded by thanking UNICEF and the Egyptian Dental Association for their support, affirming that this multi-party collaboration exemplifies a successful model for partnership between the government, private