Press Release
October 21, 2008

Dentist group backs Gordon's 'text-for-change' bill

The Philippine Dental Association (PDA) has backed Independent Senator Richard J. Gordon's 'text-for-change' bill aimed at improving the country's educational and health care systems, as they noted that dental problems continue to be the number one health scourge of pupils nationwide.

Gordon said he is thankful that the members of PDA have once again thrown their support to his efforts and undertakings aimed at improving communities in the country.

"The PDA has already inked partnership with the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) in our undertakings and activities in communities nationwide. I am grateful that here they are again, throwing their support to a measure with a noble cause," said Gordon, also chairman of PNRC.

Dr. Leo Gerald De Castro, PDA President, said they are in full support of Senate Bill 2402, the Health and Education Acceleration Program (HEAP), which seeks to provide quality education for all students and resolve the poor health profile of pupils nationwide.

De Castro said 70.51 percent of school children suffer from dental caries or serious tooth decay, which affect students' performance in school that may eventually lead to a poor achievement rate.

"Oral health problems continue to be the top health scourge among school children. This would affect their concentration in school since they would be complaining of aching teeth," he said..

"That is why we fully support Senator Gordon's HEAP bill. We need to address not only educational matters but also the health concerns of pupils especially in public schools," De Castro added.

Citing statistics, Gordon said dental check-ups conducted on 2.389 million public elementary school students last January to June showed that 70.51 percent or 1,657,776 suffer serious tooth decay; while 541,693 pupils suffer from other dental problems such as root fragments, retained deciduous teeth, malocclusion, calcular deposit, gingivitis, decubital ulcer, fluorosis, supernumerary teeth, stomatitis, pyorrhea, and cleft lip/palate.

Gordon also noted that schools lack health manpower with only 154 medical officers, 617 school dentists, 3,254 school nurses, 570 dental aides, and 32 nutritionist-dieticians for the more than 17 million public school students in the country.

The country's health personnel-student ratio is at one medical officer is to 80,000 students; one school dentist is to 20,000 students; and one school nurse is to 5,000 students.

Gordon said the HEAP bill, when passed into law, would require telecommunication companies to remit a portion of their net income from local text messaging to help augment government resources to finance needed education and health infrastructures.

Aside from funding backlogs in education infrastructures, the HEAP Fund will also be used to upgrade school clinics, hire the needed health officers, establish a feeding program for public elementary schools, and provide for regular vaccination and dental check-up programs.

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