Dentists Deployment Project Central Visayas

2026 World Oral Health Day Celebration

Dentists Deployment Project 2026 Orientation

March 13. 2026

𝗗𝗢𝗛 𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗬𝗔𝗦 𝗖𝗛𝗗 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗦 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗢𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗧𝗛 𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗜𝗡 𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗦, 𝗖𝗘𝗕𝗨
The Department of Health Central Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH Central Visayas CHD) celebrated this year’s World Oral Health Day through a collaborative outreach activity in Asturias, Cebu on March 20, 2026. The event formed part of the global advocacy effort to raise awareness of the importance of oral health and its strong connection to overall health and well-being.
The initiative engaged daycare learners from Asturias National Child Development Center, Poblacion Child Development Center, and Owak Child Development Center. Services included oral health education, supervised toothbrushing drills, oral assessments, fluoride varnish application, and distribution of oral health kits, aimed at instilling proper hygiene and promoting preventive oral health care at an early age.
A pledge and signing of the commitment wall highlighted the support of partner organizations in strengthening oral health services and sustaining community-based programs. Participating partners included the Philippine Dental Association – Cebu Chapter, Philippine Dental Association – Mandaue Chapter, Colgate-Palmolive Philippines, Inc., dentists under the Dentists Deployment Project, Child Development Workers (CDWs), parents, and representatives from the barangay council.
The multi-stakeholder activity emphasized the importance of addressing oral health disparities in underserved communities, strengthening partnerships among public and private sectors, and empowering individuals to take an active role in maintaining good oral health. Through initiatives like this, DOH Central Visayas continues to advance accessible oral health care and improved health outcomes.

World Oral Health Day (WOHD), led by the FDI World Dental Federation, is an annual global effort to raise awareness about the significance of oral health and its connection to overall well-being. The celebration in Asturias aligns with international goals to tackle social and commercial determinants of oral diseases and promote lifelong oral health practices.

March 20 is WORLD ORAL HEALTH DAY (WOHD)!

𝗗𝗢𝗛 𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗬𝗔𝗦 𝗖𝗛𝗗 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗦 𝗙𝗟𝗨𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗘 𝗩𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗛 𝗗𝗥𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝟱𝟬𝟬 𝗖𝗘𝗕𝗨 𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗦
The Department of Health Central Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH Central Visayas CHD), in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd), conducted a Fluoride Varnish Application Activity on February 19, 2026 at Don Vicente Rama Memorial Elementary School, Cebu City.
The fluoride varnish application is one of the DOH's flagship oral health programs, aimed at preventing tooth decay, one of the most common health problems among Filipino schoolchildren. The activity also formed part of DepEd’s School Dental Health Care Program (SDHCP), which integrates essential oral health services within the school setting.
The collaborative effort brought together key partners committed to improving children’s oral health. The University of the Visayas – Department of Dentistry actively participated, with dental students and their clinical instructor augmenting the workforce during the activity. In addition, the Philippine Dental Association – Cebu Chapter and the Philippine Dental Association – Mandaue Chapter lent their expertise and support, underscoring the strong collaboration between government agencies, academic institutions, and professional dental organizations.
Through this united initiative, 500 learners received fluoride varnish treatment, reinforcing the shared commitment of DOH and DepEd to promote preventive healthcare and ensure healthier smiles among schoolchildren in Central Visayas.

𝗗𝗢𝗛 𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗬𝗔𝗦 𝗖𝗛𝗗 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗦 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗙𝗜𝗘𝗗 𝗘𝗙𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗔𝗗𝗩𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗢𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗧𝗛
The Department of Health Central Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH Central Visayas CHD), through the Oral Health Program, in collaboration with the Philippines Dental Association – Cebu Chapter, Inc, the Cebu Doctors` University (CDU) - College of Dentistry, and the Department of Education (DepEd), spearheaded the oral health advocacy activity on February 13, 2026 at Zapatera Elementary School, Cebu City.
Dental students from CDU–College of Dentistry delivered interactive, child-friendly lectures incorporating question-and-answer games with prizes. A live toothbrushing demonstration was also conducted, followed by supervised drills and return demonstrations to ensure learners correctly practiced proper brushing techniques.
To support sustained oral health practices, the PDA–Cebu Chapter donated toothbrushes and toothpaste, while the Oral Health Program provided Visayan-translated educational posters for classroom display as constant visual reminders.
Beyond benefiting the learners, the activity also provided valuable community exposure for volunteer dental students under their Dental Public Health curriculum, enabling them to apply classroom knowledge in real-world community engagement.
Through strengthened partnerships among health professionals, DepEd and future dentists, DOH Central Visayas CHD reaffirms its commitment to instilling lifelong healthy habits, prevent dental caries and other oral diseases, reduce school absenteeism due to tooth-related pain, and advancing improved oral health outcomes across communities.

𝗗𝗢𝗛 𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗬𝗔𝗦 𝗖𝗛𝗗 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗦 𝗦𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗞𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗘 𝗗𝗥𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗗𝗥𝗘𝗡 𝗧𝗢 𝗔𝗗𝗗𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗢𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗧𝗛 𝗚𝗔𝗣𝗦
The Department of Health Central Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH Central Visayas CHD), in collaboration with the Josenian Industrial Technocrats Society (JOINTS) and the Philippine Dental Association- Mandaue Chapter conducted the “Sparkling Smile Drive” on January 24, 2026 in Sitio Motra, Tisa, Cebu City.
The activity featured oral examinations, fluoride varnish application, distribution of hygiene kits, and oral health education for child beneficiaries of the program. These initiatives helped improve personal hygiene, prevent common health issues, and encouraged children to practice healthy routines, reinforcing the program’s commitment to sustainability, education, and care. It also strengthened collaboration among stakeholders in addressing oral health disparities in urban poor communities.

https://www.worldoralhealthday.org/

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