Collaboration, Inter-Linkages and Health Promotion Mark 2012 National Dental Health Month

Health Promotion Among Priority Target Groups Instead of Tooth Extractions

With the theme ‘Ngiting Matatamis Ngiping Malinis, Dala ay Saya Tunay na Ligaya’, the City Health Office of Cadiz joined the rest of the country in celebrating National Dental Health Month last February. The celebration was aimed at raising public awareness on the importance of Oral (Dental) Health as part of the over-all physical well-being and as a good indicator of a person’s general health condition. For its part, the Oral (Dental) Health Program of Cadiz City Health Office organized a series of month-long activities which benefited the cross-section of the local population and its 4 Priority Target Groups who are Children age 1 to 5 years old, Adolescent and Youth age 10 to 24 years old, Pregnant Women and Older Persons age at least 60 years old.  Instead of Tooth Extractions that usually characterize dental health events, the celebration focused on Health Promotion among these vulnerable groups through Oral Health Education, Counseling and Supervised Toothbrushing Drills.

2012 Versus 2011 NDHM

In the 2011 NDHM celebration, Oral Health Program was working with just two inter-linkages involving Day Care Centers and Maternal and Child Health Program. The special events then were held at CHO and CEES2 grounds. What made this year’s celebration different were two things: First, it served a wider cross-section of the community by taking  advantage of more inter-linkages between  Oral Health Program and 5 other programs/activities/offices, namely 1.) Maternal and Child Health/New Garantisadong Pambata’, 2.) Day Care Centers (CSWD and Barangays), 3.) Cadiz Emergency Clinic,  4.) Population Program/Family Planning Program,  and 5.) Senior Citizens’ Association (CSWD). Second, the venue of the activities were not concentrated within the vicinity of Cadiz City Health Office but were dispersed.

Outreach activites were held at Purok Santan - an urban socio-ecomically depressed area in Cadiz - on  the 23^rd.  Residents benefitted from  Supplemental Feeding, Health Promotion through the use of PowerPoint® presentations on the New Garantisadong Pambata’Program and the role of toothbrushing and handwasing in reducing the incidence of childhood diseases,  tips on proper diet and correct oral hygiene practices, and the unhealthy effects of tobacco and mouth piercing on adolescents. Distribution of toothbrushes, toothpastes and bars of bath soap, demonstration on the correct toothbrushing technique and a toothbrushing drill among children  and adolescents capped the activities for the day.

The celebration took advantage of the monthly meeting of Day Care Workers last 27^th as a venue for the distribution of Toothbrushing and Handwashing Paraphernalia for select Day Care Centers who have submitted their Supervised Toothbrushing Drill Reports. Two children from Barangay Burgos who were considered as Orally Fit (OFC’s), Mary Heartfel Villegas and Charmel Jasmin, were recognized with certificates and health products. OFC’s are children who have no tooth decay or have tooth decay filled with either temporary or permanent filling materials, have healthy gums, have no oral debris and no handicapping dento-facial anomaly (DOH A.O. 2007-007). The meeting was also a venue for  discussing issues and problems encountered by the Day Care Workers regarding Supervised Toothbrushing Drills.

            At the close of the month (29^th), a lecture presentation on Oral health Care for Older persons age at least 60 years old was given to members of the Cadiz City Senior Citizens’ Association from Barangay Zone 1 and Barangay Zone 4. The presentation tackled denture care, the need for senior citizens to be orally-fit even in advanced years and the ill-effects of tobacco and excessive alcohol intake.

            Aside from these special events,  regular activities such as Supervised Toothbrushing Drills in Day Care Centers; Health Education Presentations for Post-Partum and Lactating women at  Cadiz Emergency Clinic Obstetrics Ward (Infant Oral Health Care), Adolescent, Youth and Pregnant Women among Pre-Marriage Counseling Attendees from the Population Office  and from Barangay Health Centers (Prevention of Dental Caries by minimizing the intake of sugary, starchy and highly processed foods, and by limiting or avoiding in-between meals; Correct Toothbrushing and Flossing Techniques as a defense against dental caries and gingival inflammation; The  ill-effects of tobacco and mouth piercing; Managing gagging  during toothbrushing and the effects of nausea and vomiting on the teeth during pregnancy); Oral Cavity Examination of Day Care Pupils, Adolescents and Pregnant Women; Tooth Extractions and Individual Health Counseling during routine visits at the Cadiz City Health Office Dental Clinic are undertaken.

2012 NDHM A Product of Collaboration Among Different Local Offices and LGU’s

            The celebration of 2012 NDHM came about as a collaboration among Cadiz City Health Personnel, namely, Mrs. Aileen Villanueva (Zone 1 Midwife), Mrs. Helen Monserate (Zone 2 Midwife), Mrs. Liberty Fernandez (Zone 3 Midwife), Mrs. Mae Singson (Brgy. Burgos Midwife), Mrs. Lina Jaspe (Puericulture Attendant), Mrs. Susan Ascura (Garantisadong Pambata’ Coordinator), Mrs. Ana Rosal (Family Planning Coordinator), Mrs. Lydia Delina (Population Officer), Dr. Jeffry Guanzon (Dentist), Mr. Arthur Abonales (Dental Aide) and Dr. Merle Jane Regalado (CHO); Barangay Health Workers (BHW’s), Day Care Workers, Officials from Barangay Zone 3 namely, Hons. Marivic Pedrosa, Nida Marfa, Tony Albarina, and Monina Tayco; Ms. Elena Serenias and her staff  at CSWD; and Mr. Romeo Ramas and Mrs. Nadya Vargas of the Cadiz City Senior Citizens’ Association.

            The celebration also benefitted from and acknowledges  the logistics provided by the Media Bureau for the visual equipment, Barangay Zone 3 Officials for the ‘lugaw’, Dr. Merle Jane Regalado for the prizes awarded to the OFC’s, the office of Hon. Samson Mirhan (City Vice Mayor) for the chairs and Hon. Sixto Guanzon, Jr. (City Councilor) for the toothbrushing and handwashing paraphernalia and the snacks.

Recap Through Photo Exhibit

            In order to recap the events of the celebration and what the Oral health Program has achieved in the previous  year, a Photo Exhibit was mounted at the Cadiz City Health Office premises./*