IN celebration of Oral Health Month, the Department of Health (DOH) – Ilocos Region will be conducting four (4) major oral health activities targeting Indigenous Peoples (IP) communities in the four provinces of the region as part of its continuing commitment to inclusive, preventive, and people-centered healthcare.
Two were already conducted on February 19 in Brgy Isic-Isic in Vintar. Ilocos Norte and in the highland municipality of San Emilion, Ilocos Sur. The next activities, which will be conducted on 24 and 26, in Naguilian, La Union and Infanta, Pangasinan, aim to improve access to essential oral healthcare services to IPs and populations in Geographically, Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs) and Unserved and Underserved Areas (UUA) communities, who often face geographical and socioeconomic barriers to health services. It is conducted in partnership with the National Nutrition Council (NNC), local government units, IP leaders, and community health workers, ensuring culturally sensitive and community-based service delivery.
DOH Ilocos Regional Director Dr. Paula Paz M. Sydiongco said the initiative reflects the Department’s commitment to equity under Universal Health Care (UHC) and the DOH 8-Point Action Agenda, which prioritizes preventive care and service delivery to vulnerable populations.
“Ang Oral Health Month ay paalala na ang kalusugan ng bibig ay mahalagang bahagi ng kabuuang kalusugan. Sa pamamagitan ng mga aktibidad na ito, inilalapit natin ang serbisyong dental sa ating mga kapatid na katutubo,” Sydiongco stated.
“Walang dapat maiwan sa serbisyong pangkalusugan—lalo na ang mga komunidad na matagal nang nahihirapang makaabot sa basic dental care,” she added.
Beneficiaries will receive free dental services, including oral examinations, cleaning, fluoride application, removal of unsavable tooth, and basic dental procedures, as well as oral health packages containing toothbrushes, fluoride toothpaste, and information materials to promote proper daily oral hygiene.
For Regional Oral Health Program Manager Dr. Mark Jason Mina, empowering IP communities through education and preventive services is key to achieving long-term oral health outcomes.
“Hindi sapat ang gamutan lamang. Mahalaga ang kaalaman at tamang gawi sa araw-araw, tulad ng regular na pagsisipilyo gamit ang fluoride toothpaste at maagang pagpapatingin sa dentista,” Dr. Mina explained.
“Sa pamamahagi ng oral health packages at pagbibigay ng libreng serbisyo, tinutulungan natin ang mga komunidad na pangalagaan ang kanilang ngipin at gilagid sa pangmatagalan,” he added.
PuroKalusugan is also being conducted simultaneously with the oral health celebration to provide primary healthcare directly to the community (purok) level, focusing on the 8 priority health outcomes, including vaccination, nutrition, maternal health, and disease screening. The program provides free consultations, TB/HIV screening, hypertension/diabetes management, and cancer screening.
The activities support the Department of Health’s #Ngiting7020 campaign, which aims for 70 percent of Filipinos to retain 20 natural teeth by the age of 20, through early intervention and sustained preventive oral healthcare.
About the Author
