Poster-making tilt on oral health launched

Public school children who draw inspiration from healthy teeth may have a chance to compete in an international poster-making contest, with a possibility that their winning entry be showcased in a global calendar.

The contest, which will be conducted from March 2 to April 30, 2012, is part of the advocacy of the Department of Education to promote oral health awareness among public school children in partnership with a toothpaste manufacturing company.

Deped has an ongoing campaign on the importance of oral health in minimizing absenteeism and cases of pupils dropping out of school because of oral health problems. “It is regrettable that based on recent surveys, 97 percent of public school children is troubled by oral problems which we know can be avoided by mere prevention. We therefore welcome this contest as another avenue to raise public awareness on the importance of oral health ” said Luistro.

The “Bright Smiles, Bright Futures Poster- Making contest is open to Grades 1 to 3 pupils, ( aged six years old to nine years old at the time of the contest) from public elementary schools nationwide. The artwork must be an original work of the student using crayon, paint, regular or colored pencil, acrylic pastel, magic marker, ink or any combination.

Aside from the criterion which best depicts the theme “Why My Bright Smile is Important”, entries will also be judged on originality and creativity. Nine national winners ( three each from every grade level) will be chosen. Their artworks will be submitted to the global judging in New York, USA for final selection of 12 global winners, which shall make it to the pages of the global calendar.