LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT REFUNDS 145 FORMER SUBSCRIBERS OF EGAN HOUSING ESTATE
admin The Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) has urged persons with disabilities to improve their oral health and hygiene.
General Manager of LASODA, Mrs. Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, at the event, themed ‘Oral Health: A key to Cardiovascular Health’, said the event was designed to address the critical health challenges often faced by individuals with disabilities due to poor oral hygiene practices.
The event, according to her, is to also equip about 200 participants with the right knowledge, tools, and resources to enhance oral care practices and, by extension, improve their overall health.
She said: “Many people don’t know that what goes on in their mouth is connected to their brain. But, unfortunately, there are special children who don’t have the capacity to brush by themselves, or don’t have the muscular strength to do certain things, they are subjected to both occupational and physical therapy to enhance strength in their mouth. Sadly, many of them live with bad oral hygiene.
“So the purpose of this event is to highlight the importance of all these and, to pinpoint to parents how important oral health is. It is also to allow experts have their input and give advice on how parents can improve their oral health and that of their children.
“Today, we are carrying out a few on-the-spot scaling and polishing treatments, and most participants will get dental assessments. About 100 persons will benefit today and our hope is that we will not just continue the event, we will also increase our capacity as well.”
The LASODA head emphasised the importance of taking proactive steps towards ensuring a healthier future for all. She stressed that ‘oral health is a critical component of overall well-being, which is often overlooked. But the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration will continue to create awareness, provide lasting solutions, and offer essential support to everyone in this regard’.
The Guest Speaker, Dr. Funmi Adeniyi, emphasised the need for regular brushing of teeth, mouth flossing and visit to the dentist at least twice in a year, to prevent oral disease and improve the health and well-being of people with disabilities.
She also enjoined parents and caregivers to encourage children to drink more water and eat more fruits and vegetables to prevent oral challenges.
“We must ensure that you visit the dentist twice a year, brushing your teeth regularly will resolve this challenge and make sure you visit dentist that are specialist in treating PWDs. Additionally, make the tooth brushing interesting and creative with the children,” she added.
Some beneficiaries of the free dental care thanked LASODA for providing practical guidance and avenues to cater for their oral health which, according to them, meets the specific needs of persons with disabilities.
