By Mar T. Supnad
Bangued, Abra—The Project “Nganga” (betel nut chewing) launched jointly by the Philippine Dental Association (PDA) – Abra Chapter and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) headed by its director Genesis Quiblado is now benefitting thousands of Tingguians.
Dr. Ramarie Fernandez Dickson, president of the PDA-Abra chapter, said the objective of the program is to improve the behavior and safeguard the oral health of indigenous people in the 10 towns of this province from possible harmful effects of betel nut chewing.
The World Health Organization estimates there are more than 600 million people chewing betel nut in South and South East Asia and the Pacific Islands.
Dr. Fernandez said the specific objectives of the project are to educate the indigenous population of the negative effects of using betel nut/quid and the importance of stains removal caused by betel nut, and to increase the level of awareness of people using betel nuts on the importance of maintaining good oral health by providing lectures on basic oral health care, proper brushing techniques, and use of toothpaste with fluoride.
PDA-Abra also aims to provide dental services based on the needs of indigenous adolescents and older persons and to enhance the “dental home facility” by adhering to appropriate PDA infection protocol standards in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The group also seeks to conduct sugar awareness and advocate for policies that will help reduce sugar consumption among the people and to initiate comprehensive preventive strategies during infancy through primary health care approach, among others.”
Originally launched by former PDA president Dr. Auditha Fernandez-Dickson — a native of Samal, Bataan and wife of former provincial board member Ramon Dickson, a highly-respected medical practitioner of Abra — Project “Nganga” has already established its Dental Home and washing facility inside the NCIP compound here, benefitting thousands of betel nut users.
The Dicksons said that with the support of Director Quiblado, who approved the erection of the office inside the NCIP compound, “the project will be a sustainable one to cater the needs of thousands on Tingguians.”
“This is to promote oral health care and uplift the social status of betel nut chewing Tingguian communities of the province,” Fernandez-Dickson pointed out.
The project has been recognized by the Cordillera region after noting its benefits from it, and local newsmen believe this could now be eligible for international recognition.
The Dicksons said at least 10 indigenous municipalities in the province of Abra still chew betel nut (momma in the local dialect), namely the municipalities of Tineg, Boliney, Tubo, Lacub, Malibcong, Luba, Sallapadan, Baay-Licuan, Bucloc and Daguioman.
“With the proven success of the joint PDA-Abra Chapter and LGU-Tineg pilot project, our radar focus then was how to sustain the project to cater the other indigenous municipalities that still culturally practice chewing betel nut,” the Dicksons added.