08 Oct 2015

The establishment of an oral health unit at the SOS Children’s Village in Francistown will reduce the high number of children queuing at hospitals seeking oral health services.

Mr Motshwari Kitso, the SOS Children’s Village national director, said during the launch of the oral healthcare service held at the village in Francistown recently. He added that children under the age of 12 lack knowledge on oral health care.

He said the programme would  create awareness on the importance of good oral health habits and prevent oral diseases among children. 

Mr Kitso noted that the programme targets to serve 32 000 children in two years.

For his part, a dental specialist at Jubilee Hospital in Francistown, Dr Abdul Mohideed advised staff and primary school teachers to teach children to brush their teeth three minutes a day. He also said chewing gum was beneficial as it keeps teeth clean.

Dr Mohideed said oral diseases were preventable. The oral health care programme is sponsored by SOS Wrigley, Sweden, Norway and Colgate South Africa in partnership with the Ministry of Health. Ends