GUAGUA, PAMPANGA – Some 940 elderlies from this town gathered at Guagua Elementary School to receive free dental check-up from Diosdado P. Macapagal Memorial Hospital (DPMMH) dentists recently.
DPMMH, the provincial hospital of Pampanga, is bringing oral health care services closer to the people of this town.
According to Dr. Joseline Ponio, dentist III of DPMMH, the program aims to bring free oral health services to the elderlies and to raise awareness on the importance of oral healthcare.
Dr. Ponio disclosed that some of the beneficiaries, despite their old age, have not been to the dentist since they were born.
“Not all of the senior citizens know about the dental program of DPMMH that is why we’re here to bring awareness to them,” the dentist said.
Edilberto Layug, 83 years old from Bancal, Guagua is one of the beneficiaries of the said program.
Layug said he can’t remember the last time he visited his dentist.
“Malwat na kung e magpadentista, for how many years kaya naman this program is very okay to me,” he said.
According to Dr. Ponio, aside from the community dental check-up, elderlies can also go directly to DPMMH to have their teeth checked. The dentist assured that dental services like oral prophylaxis or cleaning, pasta and tooth extraction for elderlies are free.
She added that other medical conditions that affect the dental health of the elderlies can be addressed at the hospital.
“DPMMH has a multidisciplinary management team. If we can’t extract the tooth of the patient because of hypertension or diabetes, we’ll include the internist in the treatment. If they have heart ailments, we’ll include the cardiologist. ”
The doctor said DPMMH will also coordinate with the project of Gov. Lilia ‘Nanay’ Pineda that provides free dentures for the elderlies who need it.
Aside from the free dental check-up, the elderlies also received P1,500 each as part of the 3-months social pension from the municipal government of Guagua and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
LIEZEL CAYANAN
