Group photo
Health Promotion & Dental Unit stage pre-preparation campaign for upcoming World Oral Health Day
Facilitators and teachers discussing at the meeting
The Health Promotion Department (HPD) and Dental Department recently held a one-day pre-preparation campaign for 10 teachers from 10 schools towards the upcoming World Oral Health Day.
The World Oral Health Day is an international event observed annually on March 20th. It serves as a global platform to raise awareness about the importance of oral health and to promote good oral hygiene practices worldwide.
Dr Annie Pajata, Senior Dental Officer, Population Oral Health Unit said the primary aim of World Oral Health Day is to highlight the significance of maintaining good oral hygiene habits, such as regular brushing, flossing, and dental check-ups.
“It also emphasizes the role of oral health in overall well-being and its connection to various systemic diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory ailments”, explained Dr Annie.
She explains the training aims to equip teachers with oral health knowledge on how to educate their school children about the importance of having teeth, the importance of good oral hygiene (tooth brushing technique), a good healthy diet, and regular dental visits. It is also an opportunity to enhance knowledge, exchange ideas, and collectively contribute to the promotion of oral health abroad.
“Due to limited funding, only 10 schools were selected to be part of this year’s World Oral Health Day; these schools are, White River Primary, Special Development Center (Red Cross), Tamlan Primary, Coronation Primary, Koloale Primary, Mbua Vale Primary, Florence Young Primary, Kukum SDA Primary, Naha Primary & Perch Primary.
“This training is very important because teachers need to be well equipped with oral health knowledge to prepare for various activities for the actual day of celebrating the World Oral Health Day on the 20th March”, said Dr Annie.
“As educators, teachers hold a unique position in shaping the attitudes and behaviors of future generations toward oral health. Their role extends far beyond the confines of the classroom; they are entrusted with the task of instilling lifelong habits that contribute to overall well-being.
“Through teamwork, we must empower individuals with the knowledge and tools they need to prioritize their oral health, including regular brushing and flossing, routine dental check-ups, and adopting a healthy lifestyle. But beyond individual actions, we must also work collectively to address the systemic factors that contribute to poor oral health”, explained Dr Annie.
Meanwhile, Coronation Primary School will host the launching of the event with a short program in the morning and free dental screenings in the afternoon. Others will do programs at their respective schools. The launching event will be Live via the MHMS Facebook page.
Thus, there will be plans to do further training with teachers from other schools not selected for this training as we still have other day events/celebrations such as the National Tooth Brushing Day.
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