Kao Industrial (Thailand) Co., Ltd. is committed to its campaign against dengue fever by subsidising research and development projects by the Ministry of Public Health with more than 6.5 million baht. The company has also recently launched the 'Save Future Lives from Mosquitoes' project and donated 80,000 pieces of Bioré Guard Mos Block Serum nationwide in February 2022.
Yuji Shimizu, President, Kao Industrial (Thailand) Co., Ltd., said: “Each year, Thailand has a large number of dengue cases. Most cases in children feature severe symptoms and can lead to death. It is a problem that has been around for a long time in the country, and the number of infections is still high. Our company is committed to providing safety from mosquitoes for the public and has collaborated with government agencies to support research and development of new anti-mosquito technology and products that can cover the skin like a protective barrier.
Commitment to control the spread of dengue fever in Thailand
Earlier in June 2021, Kao in collaboration with Amata Corporation Public Company Limited, Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand, National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC), and Division of Vector Borne Diseases, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, launched a project to fight against dengue fever.
As the Covid-19 situation in Thailand has improved, with lockdown in strict control areas suspended since November 1, 2021, the research team led by the Department of Disease Control studied the mosquito larvae in the pilot area of Nong Mai Daeng Subdistrict and Don Hua Lo Subdistrict. Kao also raises awareness about dengue fever and proposes improvements to the waste management system to reduce the breeding grounds of mosquito larvae. The goal is to reduce dengue contagion and morbidity in the pilot location, an industrial area where many dengue cases are reported every year, and ultimately become a dengue-free area within three years.
In addition, Kao has donated 1.5 million baht to the research team from NECTEC and the Department of Disease Control to develop the “Roo-Tan” application, available on both Android and iOS platforms, featuring information on the risk of dengue fever, PM2.5 warnings, a heat index to prevent sunstroke, Covid-19 case numbers and other health-related tips.
Kotaro Nuriya, President, Consumer Products – Health and Beauty Care Business (Global), Kao Corporation, said: “Kao has established a medium-term management strategy, which serves as the first step in Kao's mission to expand to other regions in Asia that are facing infections from mosquitoes. We formulated a new business model through the Bioré brand that helps connect people and society. We will never stop innovating, developing and offering a variety of products because we believe that cleanliness and safety connect people with each other.”
New anti-mosquito product for sustainability
According to Kao’s vision of sustainability the 'Save Future Lives from Mosquitoes' project perfectly embodies the 'Kirei Lifestyle Plan' initiated back in 2019 that focuses on improved quality of life and transformative innovation to handle new challenges through many products that provide safety for life.
Kao has continuously conducted research on the behaviour of mosquitoes and developed a new product dubbed, 'Bioré Guard Mos Block Serum', a specially formulated barrier cream that, unlike traditional repellents, shields the skin from mosquito bites, is free from harmful DEET and Picaridin chemicals, and enhanced by special technology that enables it to be spread widely on the skin.
In February 2022, Kao will donate 80,000 Bioré Guard Mos Black Serum to protect people’s lives under the Save Future Lives from Mosquitoes project as well as build awareness and knowledge around dengue fever.
