SERIAN: Malaysian Dental Association (MDA) Eastern Zone recently gave free dental treatment to 145 villagers at Kampung Mapu Kijabu, Mongkos here.
The dental care service might not be much, but MDA Eastern Zone chairman Dr Sim Wen Sann believed that this community service could bring a sense of awareness of the importance of dental health to the villagers.
The volunteers involved were from various government departments and agencies including representatives from the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Defence (Mindef), as well as a few non-governmental organisations including Tzu Chi International Medical Association (Tima), Lions Club of Kuching, Sathya Sai Baba Centre, The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) Sarawak Branch, and Pink & Teal EmpowHer.
The outreach programme was not only to share knowledge on the proper and hygienic way of teeth brushing, but to also raise awareness of the importance of providing dental care facilities in the interior areas.
With the setting up of six dental stations during the programme, dentists managed to check the oral hygiene of the villagers as well as provide treatment including fluoride application, fillings, scaling, extractions and dispensing medications.
People from other surrounding villages ― Kampung Mapu Tragu, Kampung Mapu Sadong and Kampung Mapu Tantu ― also took part in the programme.
Besides offering dental treatment, the volunteers also shared information on dietary advice to the villagers and entertained the children with story-telling activities.
