St Raphael Health Programme reports on Oral Hygiene initiative
From 18–22 May, learners across all primary schools and ECD centres within the Michaelhouse Community Partnership Trust (MCPT) footprint participated, through our St. Raphael’s initiative, in oral hygiene education sessions delivered in partnership with Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures®. Approximately 1,600 Grade R–3 learners took part in interactive demonstrations focused on toothbrushing techniques, oral hygiene awareness and the importance of healthy daily habits.
At St. Raphaels’s our passion is on improving the health of our 6995 kids in our 16 footprint schools. Teaching children how to brush their teeth may seem like a relatively small intervention. However, oral health has implications that extend far beyond the bathroom sink. Our experience is that poor oral health can contribute to pain, infection, sleep disruption, difficulty eating, reduced concentration and absenteeism. For younger learners, these effects can influence both wellbeing and educational participation.
Learners at ???? schools
The rollout focused on ECD and Foundation Phase learners because the early years are when lifelong habits are formed.
Historically, much of the St Raphael programme has focused on vision screening and growth monitoring (BMI), helping to identify learners who may require further support or referral. This oral hygiene education rollout highlighted another area increasingly recognised as influencing a learner’s ability to participate fully in education.
As our efforts to improve learner wellbeing evolve, our nutrition assessments and oral health education initiatives enable us to explore where additional support and partnerships may further strengthen learner wellbeing. With generous donor support, these efforts combined with our literacy and numeracy programmes and our infrastructure upgrades, effect the lives of the 6925 kids in our 16 Footprint schools and 10 ECD centres.
