Unilever Ghana partners GHS to expand oral health care

The Unilever Ghana PLC has joined forces with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to launch a nationwide oral health intervention aimed at strengthening preventive oral healthcare, expanding access to screenings and significantly reducing the occurrence of cavities across Ghana.

The collaboration will drive the expansion of the “Do The 2” campaign, an oral health initiative which promotes everyone to brush their teeth twice a day every day.

The campaign is delivered through Unilever Ghana’s Pepsodent brand’ which promotes the simple but powerful message, “Brush morning and night for the best smile”.

The joint initiative forms a key part of activities marking World Oral Health Day 2026 and reinforces ongoing schools and community outreach programmes across the country.

Before the launch of the partnership at the Ghana Health Service Headquarters in Accra yesterday, the Managing Director of Unilever Ghana PLC, Chris Wulff-Ceaser, and the  Director-General of GHS, Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, appended their signatures to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) governing the partnership.

The unveiling event brought together senior officials from both institutions, alongside distinguished stakeholders and members of the media.

Partnership

The partnership will leverage the nationwide reach of GHS, which operates across all regions and districts, to ensure oral health education and screenings reach more communities, schools and households, particularly in underserved areas.

As part of the 2026 rollout, health professionals across districts will receive training in basic dental and oral health support to strengthen early detection and prevention.

The training will equip healthcare workers to support school and community-based oral health screenings; identify early signs of cavities and common oral health conditions; provide guidance on proper twice-daily brushing techniques and refer cases requiring advanced care to appropriate dental facilities.

“This structured approach complements existing dental services while extending preventive oral healthcare deeper into communities nationwide,” the MD of Unilever said.

Cavities

Cavities remain one of the most common oral health challenges affecting both children and adults in Ghana.

Children are particularly vulnerable due to inconsistent brushing habits and limited access to preventive care.

The “Do The 2” campaign directly addresses this challenge by promoting twice-daily brushing as a simple yet highly effective preventive habit, reinforced through education, professional screenings, and sustained community engagement.

Speaking after the signing ceremony, Mr Wulff-Ceaser emphasised the importance of long-term collaboration in driving measurable health outcomes.

“Oral health is fundamental to overall wellbeing.

Through this partnership with the Ghana Health Service, we are strengthening preventive education by equipping frontline health workers and expanding oral health awareness into communities nationwide.

This is about building sustainable habits and healthier futures for Ghanaian families,” the Managing Director of Unilever Ghana PLC said.

He said the partnership would ensure that beyond the World Oral Health Day, the message of preventive oral care would continue throughout the year through school programmes, community outreach and trained health professionals.

“Together with the Ghana Health Service, we are taking an important step toward ensuring that good oral hygiene becomes a national habit, and that every Ghanaian, no matter where they live, has access to the knowledge and support needed to maintain a healthy smile,” Mr Wulff-Ceaser said.

For his part, Dr Akoriyea said the partnership aligned with the mandate of the GHS to promote preventive healthcare and strengthen community-based health education across the country.

Activities under the partnership will be rolled out nationwide in the lead-up to and beyond World Oral Health Day 2026, with ongoing monitoring to assess reach, screening coverage and improvements in oral health awareness and practices.

Together, Unilever Ghana PLC and the Ghana Health Service are working to ensure that brushing morning and night becomes a national habit, supporting healthier smiles and healthier lives across Ghana.