The Department of Health Mimaropa regional office has launched the “Ngipin Para Kay Tatang at Inang” or NgiTI, an oral health campaign for the elderly in line with celebration of the Elderly Filipino Week.
DOH Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo said free dentures were given to the elderly to kick off the program during a ceremony at the Romblon State University in Odiongan, Romblon on Oct. 7.
“This is also our way of expressing our gratitude to our elderly for their sacrifices in safeguarding our generation by keeping us safe and healthy as we also give them health and protection as they enjoy a more productive journey through life,” said Janairo.
The initial recipients were given priority and selected by their local government units from the list of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, he added. The regional office allocated P750,000 for the 50 dentures given out.
The NgiTI project aims to address the difficulty in chewing or mastication by providing prosthetic appliances or dentures that will restore the function and missing tissue parts.
The measurements and impressions of the recipients’ mouths was done a month before by a team of dentists headed by Dr. Maria Gracia S. Gabriel, head of the DOH-Mimaropa Oral Health Unit, in partnership with the Romblon Provincial Health Office, Municipal Health Office of Odiongan, and Provincial Social Welfare and Development office.
Among the services provided during the event were pit and fissure sealant, fluoride utilization, tooth brush drill, oral examination and case finding.
A hygiene kit was also given to the recipients including a lecture on the proper care and usage of their denture. Free medical and eye checkup including eyeglasses were also given to senior citizens.
“For those who were not given and are in need of dentures, we will continue this program not only in Romblon but will travel around other provinces so that every senior citizen will have their own set of dentures,” Janairo assured.
“As we grow older, we need to be give full attention to our health status, such as the importance of oral health,” he said.
“We all only get one set of permanent teeth, so it is important to take care of them as we grow old by regularly brushing and flossing our teeth after every meal and eating a healthy, well-balanced diet that includes dairy and high-fiber foods,” Janairo said.
The NgiTI project is part of the DoH-Mimaropa Direct Oral Health Treatment Services (DOHTS) to support the implementation of oral health programs at the LGU level.
It aims to resolve the many dental conditions affecting vulnerable populations in the region from children ages 0-6, pregnant women and the elderly, including the disadvantaged and marginalized groups of indigenous people and persons with disability.