Grade 1 pupils of Camp Lapu-Lapu Elementary School during the dental education and fluoride treatment drive conducted by Juanito I. King Foundation Inc. and GMA Foundation.
contributed photo
More than 300 Grade 1 pupils of Camp Lapu-Lapu Elementary School in Lahug, Cebu City were beneficiaries of the recent dental education and fluoride treatment drive of two foundations – Juanito I. King Foundation Inc. (Jikfi) and GMA Foundation together with the Department of Education – Cebu City Division.
The activity was in support of 2017’s Oral Health Month theme “Ngiping Inalagaan at Pinagyaman, Hatid ay Ngiting di kukupas kailanman.
The National Monitoring and Evaluation Dental Survey conducted by the Department of Health in 2011 shows that 87 percent of Filipinos suffer from tooth decay. Statistics show that 77 percent or more than 7 out of 10 Filipinos have never even been to a dentist.
The campaign organizers cited the alarming issue on oral health in the country as shown by 98 percent of children aged three to five having dental caries or cavities while 20 percent of six-year-old children had never been to a dentist.
They said that this could have been prevented if proper information and services were made available and accessible to those, who had no inkling on the importance of oral health.
Dr. Katrina Carlos and Dr. John Daniel Villegas, Jifki’s in-house dentists, taught the children the importance of proper nutrition and brushing of the teeth, which included a tooth brushing drill and the application of flouride, which helps prevent tooth decay by making the teeth more resistant to acid attack from plaque bacteria and sugars in the mouth.
This is an annual activity of Jifki and GMA Foundation to celebrate oral health month and their thrust to send the message on the importance of dental health among children, who are prone to tooth decay./PR