DENTAL CARIES ELIMINATION FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN OF KONKAN REGION OF WESTERN MAHARASHTRA
Introduction
School going children constitute an important fraction of the total population. School children have tremendous latent potential as future human resource of the country. The health issues associated with school children are unique and need special interventions. Malnutrition among school children is widespread in Konkan region of Western Maharashtra and it needs to be dealt with on priority. It is observed that oral hygiene of these children is very poor. Dental caries has severely affected functional capacity of their teeth. This could be one of the contributory factors toward persistent malnutrition.
In the view of above, B.K.L Walawalkar Hospital has launched a School Dental Check-up and Treatment Project- ‘PROJECT DENTAL CARIES ELIMINATION’ for underprivileged children of remote Konkan region of Western Maharashtra with special emphasis on oral health education. These school children are periodically screened by government health machinery such as- Medical Officers of Primary Health Centre, however, our project is unique in the following ways:
- The approach is both, preventive and curative. The children are not just screened for dental caries but are also treated to eliminate dental caries and to restore functional capacity of their teeth.
- The activity is on a periodic basis strictly as per well designed schedule that includes oral health education at various levels, screening, step by step treatment and sequential follow-up. This has indeed ensured drastic improvement in the children’s teeth and oral health status.
- Special emphasis is given on oral health education. Massive oral health education drive is generated by conducting ‘Oral Health Education Programs’ for Ante Natal and Post Natal mothers, Anganwadi Sevikas and Madatnis, School teachers, Students, Parents, Village Sarpanchs etc.