Dental Health Month puts smiles on faces of 10,000 kids
Unilever Vietnam is raising dental awareness across the nation this month with free check-ups, treatment and education to help citizens take better care of their teeth.
More than 10,000 children were treated under the P/S for Dental Health Awareness Month in June 2006 and the programme Protect the Vietnamese Smile, bringing the total to two million over the past eight years.
Fourteen mobile dental vans are traveling throughout the country to spread this month's message of raising awareness of people's dental health care, especially the habit of brushing after meals, before sleep and having periodic check-ups.
Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy, vice president of Viet Nam Women Association, said: "The Viet Nam Women's Union highly appreciates Unilever Vietnam and its programme for active community development, educational activities, big investment and its support for the cause of public health care in general and for women and children in particular."
More than 150 affiliated dental hospitals and centres have co-operated with the organiser of the programme to provide free dental check-ups and advice, and provide free dental health care products to over 120,000 children and their parents in Hanoi and HCM City.
Mai Chi Cong, manager of the programme, said: "We want to provide not only dental check-ups and treatment, but also cheerful moments for kids on the occasion of the International Children's Day and Vietnam Family Day."
Unilever Vietnam has committed to an annual VND70bil for social and community activities (especially health care), youth education and development, and support for women for the 2006-2010 period.
Dental health care will be given the first priority as 60% of Vietnamese children have yet to receive dental education or be checked and treated for oral problems.
According to the Dental Institute's recent statistics, 84.9% of children aged 6-8 suffer baby tooth decay, 25.4% have permanent tooth decay and 42.7% have gum disease.
If tooth decay is not treated early, it is likely to affect the quality of life with severe tooth aches and cause cell tissue inflammation, endocarditis and blood infection, says the Institute.
The P/S Protects the Vietnamese Smile has been co-ordinated by the International Dental Federation.
