By Kabuye Ronald
As Uganda joins the rest of the world in commemorating Global Handwashing Day, Chil Femtech Limited has officially launched Phase Two of the Dettol Hygiene Quest, a large-scale hygiene and sanitation campaign aimed at advancing school health across Uganda.
The initiative is funded by Reckitt—the makers of Dettol—and implemented by Chil Femtech Ltd, a digital health company using technology to improve health outcomes across Africa.
According to Dr. Shamim Nabuuma Kalisa, CEO of Chil Femtech, the first phase (2024–2025) reached 750 schools in Uganda, where the project installed 1,500 handwashing stations (two per school) and distributed hygiene education materials. This phase significantly reduced hygiene-related illnesses and helped millions of learners stay in school.
Phase One focused on districts such as Kisoro, Kanungu, Ibanda and Rakai.
With Phase Two, the initiative will expand into Gulu, Lira, Isingiro, Kampala, Sironko, and other districts. This new phase introduces a tech-driven innovation: the “Digital Hygiene Quest Chatbot”, a virtual assistant designed to help teachers prepare lessons, track student attendance, and monitor hygiene practices more effectively.
“Clean hands shouldn’t be a privilege—they should be every child’s right. Let’s make hygiene education a national priority by ensuring no one is left behind,” said Dr. Shamim.
She added that the chatbot will empower teachers and schools to maintain hygiene standards while integrating digital tools into everyday learning.
The launch event was officiated by Hon. Wamala Florence Nambozo, State Minister for Karamoja and Woman MP for Sironko District. She praised the program, emphasizing that hygiene and sanitation are not just health concerns, but key foundations for education, economic growth, and national development.
“A sick child cannot learn, and a community that ignores hygiene cannot prosper,” said Hon. Nambozo.
She highlighted the alignment between the Dettol Hygiene Quest and the National Development Plan IV, noting the project’s contribution to reducing school absenteeism, improving child health, and promoting dignity in schools.
She also commended the digital transformation brought by the chatbot, which has streamlined data collection, improved transparency, and even extended hygiene promotion to households in surrounding communities.
Dr. Safina Musene, Commissioner for Health Education and Training at the Ministry of Education, described Phase Two as a critical step in achieving safe, health-friendly learning environments. She said the initiative supports the School Health Policy (2023) and WASH in Schools Guidelines (2018).
Shaka Bornface Onyari, Cluster Country Manager for Reckitt (Uganda and Tanzania), reiterated the brand’s commitment:
“Every child deserves clean hands. At Reckitt, we believe hygiene is not a privilege but a basic right. As Dettol, we stand for care, trust, and protection,” he said.
As Global Handwashing Day is observed, the launch of Phase Two reinforces the belief that hand hygiene can be transformative—not just for schools, but for entire communities.
