Preventing Transmission of Dangerous Diseases with Products and Education

As the leading marketer of household insect control products worldwide, SC Johnson is helping educate people about the critical public health issue of malaria, dengue and other insect-borne diseases. The company is committed to doing its part to protect families around the world, while creating sustainable business value.

Did you know?

According to world health authorities, each year mosquitoes contribute to the transmission of diseases affecting more than 500 million people worldwide. From malaria, dengue and encephalitis, to West Nile Virus and others, these dangerous infections have a tremendous impact and yet are preventable. Malaria for instance kills more than a million people every year, most of whom are children under age 5 living in Africa.

That’s why one of SC Johnson’s key sustainable development platforms is helping to minimize the spread of insect-borne diseases in high-risk areas of the world by providing consumers with affordable and effective protection from insects.

How does SC Johnson offer protection in high-risk areas of the world?

SC Johnson’s insect control brands include Raid®, Baygon®, OFF!®, Autan® and AllOut®. The sprays, coils, electric diffusers and area and personal repellents are effective tools in the prevention of insect bites in countries where insect-borne diseases are prevalent.  Other product forms in these brand lines also provide protection from cockroaches, flies, bees, ticks, moths and other crawling and biting insects.

Where do we conduct our research?

The company opened its first entomology research center in 1968 and today operates the world’s largest private, urban entomology research center with more than 65 research and engineering professionals targeting the important public health issue of insects.  SC Johnson’s efforts don’t focus solely on products, however.

How are you educating communities in prevention?

SC Johnson invests in education and programs that help build awareness of the danger of insect-borne diseases. From programs in schools, to sampling in areas with disease outbreaks, to community education, we are helping protect the health of families in many places around the world.

In 2004, SC Johnson created the Healthy Children, Healthy Homes™ program, which is focused on increasing malaria prevention knowledge in South Africa. This collaborative effort with South Africa’s National Department of Health, the Medical Research Council and RTI International is a community-based malaria education program. It reaches more than more than 1 million South Africans and is now fully run by regional health departments. This is a key element of the model SC Johnson helped develop — that once a program’s effectiveness is proven, it should transition to local health authorities to be sustainable for the long term.

In 2007 SC Johnson expanded its African anti-malaria education program by launching programs in Ghana and Mozambique.

In 2008, SC Johnson joined the Clinton Global Initiative, a program launched by President Bill Clinton, which addresses some of the world’s most pressing challenges. It focuses on a wide array of issues, including malaria, which is also a core focus for SC Johnson.