DISCO, Firms Partner To Promote Oral Hygiene In Lagos

The Ikeja Electric (IE), has partnered with Unilever Nigeria Plc and Hygeia Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO), to carry out an oral hygiene intervention campaign across five primary schools within its network.

This information was contained in a statement signed by the Head, Corporate Communications of the company Mr Felix Ofulue and made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Lagos.

The statement focused on the fundamentals of dental care; promotion of oral hygiene among pupils, stressing the importance of brushing teeth twice daily, in a three-minute cycle to help prevent tooth decay.

The Oral Care campaign team visited: Ipaja Community Primary School, Ipaja; Owoseni.Primary School, Oshodi; Coker Memorial Primary School, Ifako Ijaiye; Adiyan Primary School, Abule Egba.

“Others are the Local Primary School, Ipakodo, Ikorodu, where the physically challenged children also participated in the exercise,” it stated.

Ofulue said that the CSR programme was aimed at ensuring improved well-being and good health for the pupils, through proper oral hygiene in order to bring out the best in them.

According to the statement, tooth decay is probably one of the most common health challenges among children and it can be a very painful experience.

“You can therefore appreciate the discomfort, which the children experience when they have to endure such pain while studying.

“It can be such a distraction. This is why we are here to ensure that they learn the right way to care for their teeth to make studying a lot easier for them,” he said.

Each pupil received a pack containing toothpaste, toothbrush and oral health manual after a brief education and demonstration on how to maintain oral hygiene.

In the statement, the pupils were encouraged to always brush their teeth every morning and night, using fluoridated toothpaste and avoid sweet and sugary things to maintain oral hygiene.

The statement also cautioned them to avoid eating high sugar based confectioneries and drinks and visit the dentist at least once every six months.