Taguig kids enjoy world-class free dental care

Volunteers from Kids International Dental Services (KIDS) teamed up with the local government of Taguig in holding a weeklong dental mission in Taguig last February 20 to 25.

KIDS is a non-profit, volunteer organization in the United States founded in 2009 by Dr. Robert P. Renner, a retired prosthodontist and Professor Emeritus at the University of New York in Stony Brook. It is an organization of volunteer dentists, students, and various professionals working toward improving the oral health of impoverished children worldwide.

This is the eighth time KIDS has done a dental mission in the Philippines as part of its aim to promote dental health in areas of the world where access to quality dental care is difficult. KIDS treats around 1,000 patients in the country every year.

University of California Professor and KIDS Board Member Dr. Ignatius Gerodias, said one of the organization’s goals is to come back each year to provide a consistent source of dental care to kids in need. “When it comes to dental care, you need continuity and to be there consistently. Even with the kids who are part of the dental mission today, we’re not going to be able to treat all their needs in just one visit so you really need to come back over time before you start seeing positive change in the kids,” Dr. Gerodias explained.

Being a Filipino himself, Dr. Gerodias also pointed out that they chose the Philippines as one of their beneficiaries because he knows there is an urgent need for dental care in the country. And they chose Taguig because it’s easier to travel to the city and the local government has proved efficient in coordinating their missions.

The dental missions were held at the Ususan Elementary School in Brgy. Ususan, R.P. Cruz Elementary School in Brgy. New Lower Bicutan, C.P. Tinga Elementary School in Brgy. Hagonoy, Capt. J. Cardones Elementary School in Brgy. South Signal, Kapt. Eddie T. Reyes Integrated School (KERIS) in Brgy. Pinagsama and at Alay Pag-asa Christian Foundation in Mandaluyong City. More than 200 kids per day were given free dental checkup, fluoride treatment, and tooth extraction. The children were also educated on the importance and methods of proper dental care.

Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano expressed her gratitude to the KIDS team for the continuous effort of the organization to promote proper dental care to the disadvantaged children worldwide. “Taguig is really blessed to be chosen as a beneficiary and be a part of KIDS’ vision in providing free dental services around the world,” the city mayor added.

One of the goals of KIDS is to also inspire young dentists to make dental missions part of their service to the community. KIDS also sends missions to Cambodia, Guatemala and Cabo Verde every year to provide quality pro-bono dental care to indigent children of these developing countries. ###

FILIPINO VERSION

Libreng world-class dental care sa mga batang Taguig

NAKATANGGAP ng libreng world class dental care ang mga bata sa Taguig City sa pakikipagtulungan ng Kids International Dental Services (KIDS) sa lokal na pamahalaan ng lungsod sa isinagawang dental mission sa lungsod nitong Pebrero 20-25.

Naitatag noong 2009 ni Dr. Robert P. Renner, ang KIDS ay isang non-profit na organisasyon sa Estados Unidos na binubuo ng mga dentista, mga mag-aaral at ilan pang mga propesyonal na kusang loob na nagtutulong-tulong upang mapabuti ang kalusugan ng mga ngipin ng mga batang kapus-palad sa buong mundo.

Ayon sa isang Pilipinong propesor, dentista at KIDS board member na si Dr. Ignatius Gerodias, isa sa pangunahing layunin nila ay balikan kada taon ang mga bansang kanila nang napuntahan dahil kinakailangan na patuloy nilang matanggap ang mga serbisyong medikal upang lubos na makita ang positibong pagbabago sa mga ngipin ng mga kabataan.

Binigyang-diin din ni Dr. Gerodias ang pangangailangan sa atensyong dental ng Pilipinas kaya naman ito na ang ika-walong beses na pagbisita nila sa bansa kung saan umaabot sa isang libong bata kada taon ang kanilang natutulungan.

Napili ng KIDS team ang Taguig dahil sa lokasyon ng lungsod at mahusay na pakikipagtulungan ng lokal na pamahalaan sa mga dental mission na ikinagalak naman ni Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano. “Napakapalad ng Taguig na makatanggap ng serbisyong ito at maging parte ng layunin ng organisasyon na makapagbigay ng libreng dental services sa buong mundo,” wika ng punong lungsod.

Kaugnay nito, mahigit kumulang 200 na kabataan kada araw mula sa Ususan Elementary School, R.P. Cruz Elementary School, C.P. Tinga Elementary School, Capt. J. Cardones Elementary School, Kapt. Eddie T. Reyes Integrated School at Alay Pag-asa Christian Foundation sa Mandaluyong City ang nakatanggap ng libreng dental checkup, fluoride treatment, at pagpapabunot ng ngipin. Maliban dito, tinuruan din sila ng importansya at kung paano ang tamang pangangalaga sa ngipin.

Layon din ng KIDS na manghikayat ng mga batang dentista na sumali sa mga dental mission bilang pakikiisa sa komunidad. Sa kasalukuyan, nagsasagawa rin ng mga libreng dental mission kada taon ang KIDS sa mga developing countries gaya ng Cambodia, Guatemala at Cabo Verde. ###