By
Elaine Vaina |
Views: 5347 | September 25, 2014
Colgate Palmolive Limited today delivered posters and boxes of Colgate toothbrushes and toothpastes to the WCS PNG’s Goroka office.
This follows a mutual partnership between the two organisations to implement Colgate-Palmolive’s Health Outreach program in one of WCS PNG’s remotest project site in the Souwi Valley.
Early this month (5th September) two WCS PNG staff members were inducted to carry out the health program.
Colgate Dentist Dr Shirley Kauba introduced the company’s Bright Smiles, Bright Future (BSBF) program to Ben Ruli and Sylvia Noble of WCS Goroka office.
The induction which included basic oral health care and hygiene would help WCS staff carry out health awareness in Souwi Valley.
Souwi Valley is one of WCS PNG’s remotest project sites where basic health services are non-existent.
Ben and Sylvia were equipped with skills and materials to roll out the program to adults and children in the area.
Dr. Kauba said during the induction that PNG has the highest rate of mouth cancer cases in the world followed by India. She said such partnership with organisations in carrying out basic oral health awareness could lessen the number of people infected with oral health problems.
Dr Kauba provided Ben and Sylvia with a trainers’ kit that consisted of oral health posters and a large size dummy teeth and toothbrush to use when demonstrating the proper way of brushing teeth.
“Colgate is about helping people know their oral health status and how they can look after themselves and not only marketing products”, Dr Kauba said.
She said dental decay is preventable and can be prevented through the dissemination of basic oral health care measures.
“By the end of the day people must be informed of oral health”, Dr Kauba said.
Souwi Valley project coordinator, Sylvia Noble said the training was helpful. She said the training was vital for her both personally and professionally in terms of capacity building, help WCS staff maintain basic oral health care and improve the oral health of the vulnerable people of Ikundi in the Souwi Valley.
Pictured receiving the awareness kits from the Colgate representatives are WCS staff members Sylvia Noble (left) Ben Ruli (first from right) and Elaine Vaina (second from right).
Plans are underway to roll out the health outreach program throughout other WCS project sites in the country.
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