by Colleen Barilae – EM TV News, Lae
Health Department’s Oral Health Analyst, Dr. Gregory Manuai, has raised concerns on the wellbeing of children’s oral health in the country.
His concerns comes following today’s National Tooth Brushing day held at Lae’s Tenth City Primary School, witnessed by more than 1,000 students and their teachers.
Dr. Manuai, said limited manpower with the Health Department has been a hindrance to lesser school service programs conducted for oral health yearly.
According to the WHO, Oral Health surveys have revealed there is an 88 per cent prevalence of dental health diseases amongst 6 year olds.
In PNG, more than 100,000 students in the country, as young as 6 years old, are reminded every year on the importance of tooth brushing to avoid oral health problems.
It comes following today’s National Tooth Brushing Day held at Lae’s Tenth City Primary School witnessed by a representative from the Health Department.
Health Department’s Dr. Gregory Manuai, says parents play a significant role in taking care of their children’s oral health.
Dr. Manuai is an oral health analyst with the Health Department.
He says the Health Department has worked on numerous health plans that continuously aim to reduce oral health problems in the country.
Today, more than 1,300 students at Lae’s Tenth City Primary School were told by the health official to look after their teeth by brushing them.
The challenge has been the lack of manpower the Health Department faces when carrying out such school service programs of keeping a good oral health.
Apart from this oral health program, health officials say basic health method begins at home- parents being the responsible caretaker of their children’s health.
