Now in its second year, SC Johnson’s Healthy Children, Healthy Homes program is a base of the pyramid effort launched in South Africa in 2004. It is a collaborative effort between the Raid® pest control brand, South Africa’s National Department of Health, the Medical Research Council and RTI International.

The program is targeting three provinces with endemic malaria – Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Kwazulu-Natal – where health officials indicate a need for improved information, education and communication. It includes presentations to school children at more than 350 schools, using interactive materials about preventing malaria.

These materials are provided in six languages and were pre-tested with target audiences to confirm understanding. Educators use games and take-home items to encourage the children to take the message with them and share it for the protection of family and friends.

Mid-way through the malaria season (February), this year’s Healthy Children, Healthy Homes effort had already achieved more than 850 educators trained to teach about malaria prevention, more than 36,000 school children reached through educational programs, and almost 13,000 community members reached.

At the same time that it helps protect families from disease, the Healthy Children, Healthy Homes program establishes the Raid® pest control brand as the authority in protection from mosquitoes – providing the economic balance required for sustained investment.

The South Africa program builds on learnings from a pilot conducted by SC Johnson, RTI International, Florida International University School of Nursing and Zubi Advertising in Miami, Florida. That pilot aims to increase awareness of the triggers of asthma and effective household cleaning practices related to controlling asthma triggers.