Procter & Gamble (P&G) Philippines continues to sustain hygiene promotion and access as public schools resume face-to-face classes this August. P&G recently donated back-to-school COVID-19 hygiene kits to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for distribution to over 389, 921 students nationwide.

The donation marks another milestone in P&G and USAID’s efforts to support underserved communities and protect them from the ongoing risk of COVID-19. Included in the packages are P&G manufactured medical-grade face masks, and hygiene kits containing Safeguard body wash, soap, and hand sanitizers.

“We are one with the country in promoting safe and healthy communities and we support educational institutions as they resume face-to-face classes this year,” says Anna Legarda, Communications Director of P&G Philippines. “P&G’s partnership with USAID enables us to bring our brands’ superior health and hygiene benefits to more communities and be a force for good in the country,” she adds.

Reports from early this year stated that the pandemic magnified long-standing health system ills, raising the importance of safeguarding the public through proper hygiene and infection prevention and control to mitigate the risk of disease transmission.

“Supporting the safe re-opening of schools remains to be a crucial undertaking in promoting quality education and bouncing back from the country's learning crisis. We thank P&G for its unwavering support in confronting and coping with national pandemic disruptions and in the pursuit of better health and education for all, especially the most vulnerable," says Dr. Laurentiu Stan, Chief of Party of USAID's ReachHealth Project.

The initiative is in collaboration with USAID’s ReachHealth project, a five-year activity that aims to improve access to critical health services for Filipino families through technical assistance in family planning and COVID-19 response. Implemented by Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International, USAID ReachHealth has worked with government agencies such as the Department of Health, and private companies like P&G.