322 Mankayan pupils benefit in dental mission

March 17, 2018 Community Billboard

MANKAYAN, BENGUET – Around 322 pupils in two elementary schools in the municipality benefited from the dental mission carried out by the Department of Education Benguet Schools Division in support of the 14th Dental National Health Month.
Around 253 pupils of Taneg Elementary School and another 69 pupils of Taneg Primary School were examined by DepEd-Benguet Dentist, Dr. Abraham C. Ulep, assisted by nurse Clark Aspuria and Mankayan District Nurse Mila Paciteng.
Of the examined pupils, 269 of them were found out to have dental defects with 124 underwent treatment.
Around 109 pupils from two schools underwent tooth extraction while 17 other had filling treatment. Overall, around 173 “temporary” teeth were extracted.
The dental team also conducted health talks to inculcate to the pupils, teachers and guests as well on the importance of dental care.
Dr. Ulep reminded the teachers to strictly observe and implement good oral hygiene while he also encouraged the provision of toothbrush to all grades.
Parents were also reminded to limit their children from eating sticky or sweets between meals, as he also urged the pupils to observe the proper way of brushing their teeth at least once a day while in school.
The pupils, teachers and parents were thankful for the dental care team for finding time and exerting efforts to reach out to the children, especially those in the rural areas.
DepEd Benguet Schools District Supt. Marie Carolyn B. Verano has directed the conduct of the dental mission in support to DepEd Memorandum 31 s. of 2018 urging all public elementary and secondary schools nationwide to participate in the National Dental Health Month with a theme: “Ngipin Inaruga Mula Pagkabata, Malusog na Ngiti Baon sa Pagtanda.”
Earlier, DepEd Secretary Leonor M. Briones, in her memorandum, expects all school health personnel, especially school dentists to take an active role in the conduct and observance of the National Dental Health Month, which is celebrated every February by virtue of Presidential Proclamation 559 s. 2004. JULIET P. DAGANOS / ABN