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After it was noticed that many people in different sectors in the district of Nyamasheke have been suffering from dental problems, they can now affirm that there is a hope as they can learn from their children who have the chance to receive education on dental health at school.
This education is provided by “Kageno Rwanda” a Non Government Organisation which has initiated a program in Banda Cell, Rangiro Sector to educate young children on dental hygiene.
The country representative of this organization in Nyamasheke District, Levi Ngilimana states that the implementation of this program was recommended by Dr Frank Andolino the Executive Director of Kageno Worldwide who himself is a specialist in the matter as a dentist, after a survey that concluded that many people in Banda area were suffering from dental diseases.
As result from the assessment it has been noticed that dental diseases among other health problems have been affecting people in this district, this specialist (dentist) decided to help with implementing a Nursery School and a Health Clinic in Banda although the clinic does not yet have the ability to provide dental care service.
Then Dr. Andolino initiated the health dental program through hygiene education in the nursery school which hosts 300 children hoping this should bring a positive impact on dental health among family members where they live.
Levi Ngilimana said that “Every child in this school owns his proper tooth brush, well protected and kept under his name, and after every lunchtime/meal students have to clean their teeth, and this has been a usual habit in this school for now over 5 past years. And as they are used to do the same in their families we believe that in a near future dental disease may become a matter of history within this community”.
Nyiransengiyumva Yvonne one of teachers at SL Nursery School can affirm that dental hygiene has become a very important lesson in this school.
She said:”Children came up to change the mindset of their parents asking them to always clean their teeth after taking their meals in the same way they have been taught at school. And now many parents have acquired the habit to brush their teeth as much as they can.
Mr. Misago Ezechiel a parent who has a child attending this school has confirmed that he can now brush his teeth as his child used to remind him every morning.
The Executive Secretary of Banda Cell, Mr Nzabonimana Jean Paul said that from this program they expect a good impact on dental health in this community especially among old people who still seem the most suffering from this disease.
Among challenges that are still noticed is that for number of people in this community the attitude change seem still far away with regard to dental care matter, some of them urging that cleaning their teeth every day especially while using tooth paste should make their teeth so hard that it should be very difficult to remove them when required.
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