Lifebuoy collaborates with Halodoc and Bandung Health Polytechnic to introduce compact thermometers with complimentary access to doctor consultations as the first line of response when children fall ill.
JAKARTA, INDONESIA 5 April 2024 – Lifebuoy, the world’s number one hygiene soap brand, in collaboration with telehealth service Halodoc and the Bandung Health Polytechnic, today unveiled Sentuhan Sehat. This innovative campaign aims to fortify parents and caregivers across Indonesia with tools for pre-emptive health management, marking a significant stride in accessible healthcare. At the heart of this initiative are groundbreaking, reusable thermometers and seamless access to Halodoc’s teleconsultation services, offering a vital lifeline for early detection of fever symptoms tied to common, yet preventable, ailments like diarrhoea.
Sentuhan Sehat sees Lifebuoy reaching communities in Bandung, West Java, to distribute more than 2,000 specially designed soap packs, impacting 6,000 Indonesians and counting, for use by parents for children and families at home. Each soap pack comes integrated with a reusable thermometer and a QR code affixed to its packaging. This code serves as a key to unlock complimentary health consultations with Halodoc’s reputable medical professionals, effectively placing invaluable healthcare advice within arm’s reach.
Indonesians are more prone to diarrhoea during the monsoon season, especially or children. Indonesia’s 2020 Health Profile[1] data shows that diarrhoea is the second leading cause of death in infants aged 29 days – 11 months at 9.8% and in the group of toddlers aged 12-59 months, amounting to 4.5% of total deaths. A common symptom of diarrhoea is fever, which usually spikes as children become more ill. In West Java only, the area has recorded thousands of diarrhoea cases in the last year.
In collaboration with Bandung Health Polytechnic as a distribution partner, Lifebuoy introduces a reusable thermometer to families across various locations in West Java such as Cibiru, Sukajadi, Kiaracondong, Batununggal, Kasomalang, and Cibeunying, where fever related to diarrhoea is prevalent and early medical interventions are essential.
Yonan Heriyanto, M. Kes., Head of the Dental Health Department at the Bandung Health Polytechnic added, “We want to emphasize the importance of reaching out to parents who have limited access to healthcare services and sharing knowledge about good hygiene principles—including ways to keep babies and young children safe from preventable diseases. It is hoped that this will help them avoid the risk of worsening conditions.”
Sentuhan Sehat reflects Lifebuoy’s support toward the collective effort to achieve the vision of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages in Indonesia. Lifebuoy aims to support the government’s programs in reducing mortality due to diarrhoea under the age of five, as stated by the Ministry of Health in the National Action Plan for 2023–2030.
From 2022 to early 2024, Lifebuoy’s free health consultation service in collaboration with Halodoc has offered about 185,000 consultations to Indonesian families. Lifebuoy is always committed to making an even bigger impact in the years to come by developing better handwashing habits, improving hygiene, protecting against preventable diseases, and helping to prevent children get sick less often.
“We hope Sentuhan Sehat can empower parents and caregivers to protect their children from preventable diseases such as diarrhea and create healthier futures for Indonesian children,” concluded Erfan.
