Dental hygiene initiative gets a boost, needs more assistance

GANGTOK, 16 Sept: Medical Officer of Tokal Bermiok PHC, Dr Karma Choden Bhutia has been getting an encouraging response to her “healthy Brush and Toothpaste” initiative.
She had started the initiative in June last year, providing free toothbrushes and toothpaste to school students, who, her work in rural Sikkim informed her, did not regularly brush their teeth or shared one brush with the entire family. It is informed that during the CATCH programme held at different villages, Dr Bhutia found students were not serious about dental health and hygiene.
The main idea of the initiative was to provide free brush and toothpaste for a year or two to students so that they could inculcate the habit of brushing daily. These students would in turn encourage their parents and elders at home to practice the same, it was hoped.
At present, this initiative covers 12 schools falling under the PHC where Dr Bhutia is posted. Now, some schools in other parts of the State have begun approaching Dr. Bhutia to extend the programme to their schools as well, it is informed.
Despite the programme’s success, however, Dr Bhutia is finding it difficult to provide one toothbrush to each student every month and one tooth paste to each student every three months.
Somani Enterprise Medical Store here in New Market has now come forward to support the initiative and the store will now also act as a drop-centre for those who want to support Dr Bhutia.  She has expressed her gratitude to CMO [South], Dr Bimal Rai, Rotary Club and her well-wishers for supporting the initiative. She has also thanked the teachers and her staff for their consistent support.  Dr Bhutia has further expressed her desire to extend this initiative state-wide.