LUBAO, Pampanga –Some 200 underweight children from 44 barangays here benefit from the municipal government’s health programs.
Yesterday, the children were treated to a free breakfast alongside second flouride application at the M. Pineda Sports Complex in Barangay San Nicolas 1st here as part of the Oral Health Month celebration.
Mayor Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab has directed the municipal health office to allocate funds for the continuous flouride supplementation for children who are lagging behind the desired nutrition.
Anchored on the theme “Unang Ngiti Patibayin”, yesterday’s program was highlighted by the dental checkup conducted by dentists from Rural Health Units (RHU) 1-3 on the children beneficiaries.
The first flouride application, according to Rita Rose Magsino, municipal nutrition action officer, was on August 11, 2016.
Flouride supplements are purchased at a unit price of P2,125 per tube.
Dentists rub the flouride on children’s teeth to make them whiter and stronger.
Nutrition breakfast composed of chicken-and-egg arrozcaldo with puto (rice flour bread) and milk was served to the children and their parents.
Packs of rice, canned goods, noodles and nutritious energy drinks and financial assistance were also brought home by the beneficiaries.
Mayor Cayabyab said oral health is an important part of overall wellness of children but is often neglected due to various reasons such as poverty and misinformation.
Children who have poor dental health miss a lot on the early stage of their life as they have to remain at home not able to play or attend school and eat properly.
Aside from mere dental health services, she said, the municipal government is conducting information campaign on proper oral hygiene.
Mayor Cayabyab hopes to see improvement on the health of the beneficiaries soon as more medical and dental services have been lined up for them. –Albert B. Lacanlale