Transforming lives through Oral Health Promotion and Intensifying Professionalism are this year’s key thrusts of the Philippine Dental Association -Negros Oriental Chapter, upon which its community outreach programs are anchored.
Guided by its goals, the PDA local chapter increased its community outreach, with two dental missions and visits to four public elementary schools namely Cantil-e, Cadawinonan, Junob, and South City in Mangnao, where treatments, oral examination, fluoridisation, oral prophylaxis, pit and fissure sealants, cavity fillings, and tooth extractions which were all rendered for free. A lecture on dental health and proper waste disposal was also given.
The purpose of promoting dental health awareness to as many people as possible was done through the distribution of leaflets, airing on radio and TV programs, the internet and other social media.
Headed by its president, Dr. Reina Ong, the PDA local chapter, together with students from Silliman and Foundation Universities, did coastal clean-up drives, and mangrove planting along the different shorelines and river banks. This is PDA’s response to the current environmental challenges we are facing today.
Aside from dental health services, PDA makes itself more relevant to the community by taking the lead in saving our planet. Mangrove planting was also done in Lapu-lapu, Cebu, and Mandaue.
To keep the members abreast with the latest and state-of-the-art dental practices, seminars had been conducted. Incidentally, PDA-GSK hosted the Region VII Convention in September last year, attended by 57 dentists from Cebu City, Mandaue, Bohol and Negros Oriental. Speakers from Manila graced the occasion. Two more local scientific seminars were conducted after the convention.
Still part of the goal of intensifying professionalism among its members, a research is being conducted on the prevalence of dental caries among grade 6 pupils of Cantil-e Elem. School and Foundation University. In line with this study, the pupils were given oral exam, prophylaxis, cavity fillings, pit and fissure sealants, and dental extractions, and monthly visits. The result of this study will be the basis of future projects of the PDA.
Dra. Ong has also initiated a feeding program in Cantil-e Elem School and Caritas Village in Bajumpandan. Additionally, the local chapter extends charity treatment to Gawad Kalinga and the orphanage children, and Sendong victims.
February is Oral Health Month. (PR)
