TACLOBAN CITY – The Philippine Dental Association (PDA) has announced plans to distribute one million toothbrushes to students in public schools across the country as part of an extensive campaign promoting proper oral hygiene.
Dr. Emmanuel Centino, president of the PDA, made the announcement during a two-day gathering of dentists from three Visayan regions in Palo town that ended Friday (Feb.23).
Centino revealed that Colgate, a leading toothpaste company, has pledged to donate 4.7 million toothbrushes to the PDA in support of their initiative to educate every Filipino family, especially children, about the importance of oral hygiene.
This campaign aims to enhance overall physical and emotional well-being and boost confidence throughout life.
“With this effort, we aim to foster behavioral change among our children and encourage families to prioritize oral health to ensure the well-being of all family members,” stated Centino.
As part of the program titled “Isang Milyong Sipilyo, Angat ngiting Pilipino” (One Million Toothbrushes, Brighter Filipino Smiles), launch events will be held in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Centino affirmed the PDA’s commitment to providing oral hygiene education to public schools in collaboration with the Department of Education, dentists, and Colgate.
“While we still have progress to make in making oral health a top priority, our association, with the support of chapters and affiliate societies, is dedicated to bringing this focus to every Filipino,” he added.
The two-day 26th PDA Visayas Convention at the Leyte Academic Center in Palo town concluded on Friday (Feb.23), with approximately 500 dentists from 17 PDA chapters across Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas in attendance.
The convention aimed to facilitate networking among dentists and introduce new dental practices to improve oral health services for their patients.
The opening of the 26th PDA Visayas Conference was attended by Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla.
Gov. Petilla encouraged dentists to embrace innovation, such as digitalization, in their practices, mirroring the advancements made by provincial and local government units in service delivery, particularly in response to the pandemic.
“Technology is evolving, and we must adapt. Anything that cannot be improved becomes obsolete. We must remain competitive, even in your profession, as digitalization becomes increasingly important,” remarked Petilla. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
