By Olabisi Akinbode
Ibadan – No fewer than 130 pupils of a primary school in Ibadan benefited from a dental screening exercise sponsored by the Rotary Club of Ibadan, Jericho Metro.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the outreach was organised by the club in partnership with the Dental Paediatrics Department of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan at Ajoke International School, Jericho.
The President of the club, Mr Adekunle Are, said the exercise was part of their Corporate Social Responsibility to the community.
He said free health services for communities in the rural areas, particularly school children were part of the programme.
Are noted that 37 children of the number screened had dental problems and had been given referral to the Paediatric Dental Centre at the hospital.
Earlier in an interactive session with parents and teachers of the school, Prof. Obafunke Denloye, the Deputy Provost of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, advised parents to desist from giving their children sugary food items and sweets.
Denloye, who is also Consultant Dental Pediatrician at UCH, said sugar was the primary cause of dental caries (progressive decay of a tooth and holes in children teeth).
“After a child has eaten a balanced breakfast in the morning, parents need not bother about giving them money to buy snacks in the school again.
“Giving children money to school only encourages them to buy sweets and sweets in turn will lead to dental caries which are common among children,” she said.
She said it was the duty of parents and the school to ensure good dental health for the children.
Mrs Abimbola Are, the proprietress of the school, thanked the Rotary Club and the Department of Dental Paediatrics at UCH for the gesture.
She said the exercise was part of the activities marking the 40th anniversary of the school.