Filipino children in the Canterbury Region, New Zealand benefitted much from the project launched by two dental practitioners in the Canterbury Region, namely, Dr. Ellen Fei, BDS, MS and Ms. Reina Marica V. Arias, DMD, RN. They spearheaded an oral health education campaign and project for children of Filipino migrants who were engaged in fun activities to teach them how to take better care of their oral hygiene.

The project, aptly called “Ngiping Malusog, Batang Masaya (Healthy Teeth, Happy Kid): An Oral Health Education Project for Filipino Children in Canterbury”, aims to increase the awareness and appreciation of the importance of good oral hygiene, healthy snacking, frequent water intake and regular dental visit of the Filipinos in the Canterbury Region. It is also designed to help the Filipino community understand the relationship between dental condition and physical health.

The project includes lectures on oral health, delivered through various mediums which includes radio guesting on the Filipino community radio programme Kamusta Ka Kabayan, dental articles in Filipino newspaper in New Zealand, features uploaded on Facebook and organization of monthly fun and interesting activities for parents and children.

The project was made possible through the financial grant given by Wrigley Company Foundation in partnership with New Zealand Dental Association. The project also received outstanding support from various organizations and companies, such as Ministry of Health of New Zealand, Colgate, NZ BYTE Trust, among others.

Ambassador Virginia H. Benavidez commended Ms. Arias and Dr. Fei for this laudable, pioneering and exemplary project for the Filipino community. “The Philippine Embassy congratulates and acknowledges with deep appreciation the collaborative efforts of Ms. Arias and Dr. Fei in launching for the first time a dental health project for Filipino children in the Canterbury region. Their mission and vision to help make a positive difference in the health and oral hygiene of Filipino children are worthy of emulation. We hope that continuing full and short armed support for “Ngiping Malusog, Batang Masaya” project will enable Ms. Arias and Dr. Fei to replicate it in other communities in the North and South Islands,” Ambassador Benavidez stated.

The Philippines Department of Health, Philippine Dental Health Association and relevant agencies and organization have been informed about the details and the huge benefits of this commendable project by overseas Filipinos, especially by the health care professions from New Zealand.