Mumbai: India Post, formerly the Department of Posts has released a special Lifebuoy Swasthya Chetna Postal Cover. M. K Noorjehan, chief post master general, Maharashtra Circle released a special ''Lifebuoy Swasthya Chetna Postal Cover, on the occasion of the World Health Day.

Lifebuoy Swasthya Chetna, is an HLL iniative in rural health and hygiene, launched in 2002, which has covered more than 17,000 villages across the country, and the postal cover is an acknowledgement of this iniative.

Commenting on the occasion, Noorjehan said, "I am privileged to release the Special Postal Cover in recognition of the phenomenal work done by Lifebuoy. On the occasion of World Health Day, I urge all my brothers and sisters to take personal hygiene habits like washing hands with soap seriously. I congratulate Lifebuoy and Hindustan Lever for initiating and assiduously implementing this socially beneficial movement".

"We are delighted to be India''s first brand to receive the honour of the special Postal Cover, " says Nitin Paranjpe, executive director, Hindustan Lever Limited. "The Lifebuoy Swasthya Chetna movement has touched 20 lakh children across eight states and created awareness about the threat of invisible germs and basic hygiene practices to counter the threat. So far we have covered over 17,000 villages and are happy to extend our efforts to another 10,000 villages this year. This recognition will go a long way in highlighting the importance of basic hygiene practices that help prevent diseases."

Lifebuoy Swasthya Chetna was conceived by HLL as a hygiene practice to combat preventable diseases with a high mortality rate in rural areas leads to high mortality rates caused by diseases like diarrhea in rural India.