LEGAZPI CITY – In an effort to enhance oral health care, the Department of Health in the Bicol region (DOH-5) and the Sorsogon Provincial Health Office (PHO) organized a summit this week. The event was part of the National Oral Health Month celebrations and aimed at promoting better oral health services across the region.
DOH-5 Regional Director Rodolfo Antonio Albornoz highlighted the importance of the summit in a press release, noting its goal to bolster oral health advocacy. The summit saw participation from a diverse group of stakeholders, including barangay health workers, development management officers, health education and promotion officers, dentists, and other oral health advocates.
Albornoz pointed out the pressing need to improve oral health programs, revealing that only 32.71 percent of the region’s eligible population is considered ‘orally fit’ according to the 2024 Basic Oral Health Care and Services status. He urged the public to utilize the government’s oral health services.
Several key programs were discussed at the summit, including the #Ngiting7020 program, the Dentist Deployment Program, and the SMILE Sorsogon Program, all designed to enhance access to oral health services. These services are accessible at Rural Health Units (RHUs) and hospitals, aligning with the initiatives of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) to broaden access to essential health care.
Albornoz also announced that oral health services would be incorporated into the Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Services (BUCAS) Center, a flagship program of the DOH under Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa. Additionally, the PuroKalusugan initiative will further enhance these programs by promoting healthy habits and increasing health awareness at the household level in villages.
The director expressed gratitude to the Sorsogon PHO for their active involvement and dedication to advancing oral health services in the region.