Monday, September 15, 2008 Gordon advises PDA to explore the world market
SENATOR Richard Gordon has advised members of the Philippine Dental Association (PDA) to further improve their craft and explore the world market.
In the 2nd PDA National Convention Mindanao, held at the Garden Oases in Davao City on September 11, Gordon, who was invited as a keynote speaker, said that Filipino dentists could do something that could make them known to the world.
"Philippine nurses are very known abroad, they are role models. I want you to be like them. You can tie up with Boracay for example, establish a hotel purely for dental practice. All you need to have is an access and good prices. Wag kayong matakot sa mundo, participate in the world," Gordon said.
He said dentistry, under the medical tourism, has a very great potential not only to the local market, but to the international market as well.
Gordon said medical tourism is one of the greatest dollar earners worldwide.
"There is a big market out there, waiting to be tapped. I know you can do it, I'm willing to help you do it," Gordon said.
Gordon said he is initiating a program that will rehabilitate and accelerate the education and health system in the Philippines.
The program, called Health Education Acceleration Program (Heap), aims to provide more health officers in the schools in the country.
Gordon said health officers who are under the Department of Education (DepEd) are not enough to cater to the needs of the students.
He said DepEd has only 154 medical officers nationwide, 3,254 school nurses, 617 school dentists, 570 dental aides, and 32 dietitians.
"Our national health profile shows that 21 percent of our school children are malnourished, 11.4 percent have iodine defficient, and 97 percent have dental problems. This made me push for the Heap program," he said.
During the convention, Gordon, who is also the chair of the Philippine Red Cross, has inked partnership with the PDA, represented by its president Leo Gerald de Castro.
PDA has partnered with the Philippine Red Cross as volunteers of the Red Cross's undertakings and activities in the communities nationwide. (JGRS)
