Monday, October 08, 2007 ‘7’oclock tooth brushing habit’ to be launched Monday
THE Department of Education (DepEd) and Colgate Palmolive–Philippines will launch on Monday the “7’oclock tooth brushing habit” as part of the program to address the problem of tooth decay among grade school pupils.
Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said about 6.9 million toothpastes and toothbrushes will be donated to the grade 1 pupils.
“This is perhaps one of the biggest private-sector partnerships we have for school health,” Lapus said adding that the total amount of the donation is P72.2 million.
Lapus added that Colgate will also provide oral health education materials to at least 139,325 grade 1 pupils nationwide.
He revealed that in 2006, the department’s record showed that 97 percent of six-year-old students and 78 percent of 12-year-old students have dental caries.
“They could not focus on class because of the pain caused by their tooth decay and this was an alarming problem we needed to address immediately,” he stressed.
With the launching of program, Lapus is optimistic that the dental health problem will be addressed.
“From this day onwards, our students should brush their teeth at 7 a.m. before their classes start and I’m calling on school administrators to make sure that this exercise is undertaken,” he emphasized.
Besides tooth brushing habit, Lapus said teachers will also be provided with oral health education materials such as posters, teacher’s guides, big story books and workbooks, DVD’s and parents’ brochures so oral hygiene will be properly integrated even at home.
He added that the health and nutrition of the children is an important concern that the government is purposefully addressing as part of the effort of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Health Education Reform Order or Republic Act (RA) 595, which integrates preventive health in education.
“Together with our friends from the private sector such as Colgate, we are providing medical and dental check-ups and interventions to all our elementary and high school students,” he said adding that the value of this support is pegged at P2 billion worth of free services and interventions. (AH/Sunnex)
