6T pupils in Naga receive dental kits
Almost 6,000 pre-schoolers and graders recently received their new toothbrush and toothpaste from Apo Cement Corp. / Cemex Philippines and the City Government during a series of activities held in seven elementary schools in the City of Naga, Cebu.
Children from the elementary schools of Inoburan, Langtad, Tinaan, Naalad, Mainit, Pangdan, Calavera and Uling received their dental kits from C em ex for its I sang Mil yong Sipilyo Program in support of the Department of Health’s celebration of the National Oral Health Month.
Now on its 23 year, the Isang Milyong Sipilyo Program aims to give one million toothbrushes and toothpastes to daycare and elementary school pupils nationwide.
Last March 15, dentists from the City Health of Naga, led by City Dentist Ethel Uy, Apo Cement Corp. Human Relations officer Marlito Cabigas, community relations officer Jill Nacar, Tinaan Barangay Captain Teodoro Cantal Jr. and School Principal Antonio Rimas distributed dental kits to the pupils of Cepoc Elemetary School.
During these activities, the dentists also taught the children the proper way of brushing their teeth.
Rimas welcomed the program, saying dental hygiene is very important because toothache among children is the most common cause for absenteeism in school.
According to the Department of Health, poor oral health poses detrimental effects on school performance and mars success in later life.
“Bisag unsaon og tuon, dili ka concentrate tungod ana. Bisag unsa pa ka bright ang bata, ma-affected jud sya kung magsakit ang ngipon (No matter how diligent he is in studying, the student cannot concentrate because of the pain. Regardless how intelligent the child is, he will surely be distracted by the pain),” Rimas said.