Salt can substitute toothpaste in brushing teeth - PDA
‘As PHL celebrates Nat’l Dental Health Awareness Month’
CEBU CITY, February 21 (PIA) -- Salt can be a substitute for toothpaste in brushing the teeth as it contains fluoride, an essential cleansing agent that is found in toothpaste.
Dr. Rodivick Docor, past president of the Philippine Dental Association (PDA) – Cebu Chapter said amid a disclosure that most mountain barangay folks used salt because they cannot afford to buy toothpaste.
“Using salt is fine and just like toothpaste, it contains the main element that cleanses the teeth which is fluoride,” Docor said.
Fluoride is said to play a significant role in the prevention of cavities as well as the promotion of healthy tooth development.
Whether one uses salt or toothpaste in brushing the teeth, it should not be done in a vigorous manner because this destroys the enamel of the teeth, Docor bared. Enamel is the hardest mineralized surface of the teeth.
Salt can also be used to clean the gums through warm saline rising, according to Docor.
“Just add ¼ teaspoon of salt to one glass of lukewarm water then now you have your warm saline rinse,” Docor disclosed.
Although Docor is not pushing for salt use as toothpaste has other advantages such as good breath, it is better than not practicing good oral hygiene.
Dr. Philip Yray of the Department of Health (DOH) 7 on the other hand, said 92.4 percent of Filipinos have tooth decay or dental caries and 78 percent have gum diseases or periodontal diseases. The figures were taken from the 1998 National Monitoring and Epidemiological Dental Survey (NMEDS).
Yray said the latest NMEDS will be disclosed within the first quarter of this year.
“Though the last survey was done over 10 years ago, it seems that the incidence of dental caries and periodontal diseases still remain high today,” Yray claimed.
To decrease the high incidence of dental carries among Filipinos, the DOH is linking with the Dep Ed and local government units to promote regular brushing of teeth and healthy diet among schoolchildren.
Other stakeholders in promoting oral health in partnership with the DOH are the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Interior and Local Government and non government organizations such as the PDA, academe and other civic groups. (PIA-Cebu)
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PHIC 7 urges public to avail of low premium rate until June
CEBU CITY, Feb. 21 (PIA) -- The Philippine Health Insurance Corp (PHIC) 7 has called on PhilHealth non-members to avail of the low premium contribution payment before the implementation of the new increased rate on July this year.
PhilHealth 7 Information Officer Atty. Karina Agraviador said that starting July 1, all PhilHealth premium contributions will increase by 100 percent. The increase is based under PhilHealth Circular No. 22 signed by Philhealth President Eduardo Banzon.
Instead of paying P1,200 per year, the premium contributions will now be raised to P2,400 per year beginning July, Agraviador said.
Agraviador advised all who want to become PhilHealth members and who are under the categories of Individual Paying Members and Self-Employed to advance their premium contribution payment before July so they can still avail of the P1,200 per annum rate.
“Members under said categories are given until June 30 to pay the annual contributions to avail of the incentives,” Agraviador said.
Agraviador added that it is a special offer or promotional gift to those who want to become members as well as existing members that they can still pay the old rate even good for two years or to include 2013.
Annual premium contribution for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) on the other hand, will likewise be increased from P900/annum to P2,400 per year beginning July 1, this year.
Agraviador also bared that Philhealth is working for the inclusion of the out-patient and regular maintenance medicines for hypertension and diabetes to be included in the health insurance coverage.
This is in line with President Benigno S. Aquino III’s health agenda of Universal Health Care that primarily aims to provide access to quality health care services to all Filipino families.
As of December 31 last year, Agraviador stated that Central Visayas already has 1.98 million members. Cebu Province has the largest volume of membership at 1.3 million or about 66 percent, Agraviador added.
Agraviador stressed their agency’s ultimate objective is for 100 percent coverage among Filipinos to become members of Philhealth. (FCR/JSME/PIA-Cebu)
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PhilHealth puts up Mobile Health Caravans in 2 Cebu hospitals
By Juju Manubag-EmpuertoTuesday 21st of February 2012
CEBU CITY, Feb. 21 (PIA) -- In celebration of the National Health Insurance Month this February, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PHIC) 7 has established Mobile Health Caravans (MHC) in two tertiary hospitals in Cebu City.
Identified hospitals are the Cebu Doctors Hospital which the MHC began its services yesterday until tomorrow and the other MHC will be in Chong Hua Hospital rolling out its services from February 27 until 29.
Philhealth 7 Information Officer Atty. Karina Agraviador said the MHCs will accept remittance reports, membership application forms, issue Membership Data Record (MDR) and identification cards (IDs).
“The MHCs will be located at the information desks of the hospitals to be manned by social insurance officers,” Agraviador said.
Meanwhile, in order to boost PhilHealth membership target to 100 percent, the agency is selling gift checks (GC) as a means of sponsoring an individual to become a PhilHealth member.
Cristina Ramos, the head of the Planning Unit of PhilHealth 7 and the Danao Service Office announced they are selling P600 worth of GCs for those who want to sponsor any individual to become a PhilHealth member.
The P600 worth of GCs will be valid up to June, this year or covers two quarters if the bearer uses it this month, according to Ramos.
Ramos however, said that if the bearer uses it in July, then the P600 GC will be good only for one quarter or from July to September because the premium contribution will increase from P1,200/year to P2,400 annually.
Agraviador on the other hand, reminded that the validity of the GC is only six months from the date of purchase and solely for payment of PhilHealth premiums. (FCR/JSME/PIA-Cebu)
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GSIS-7 to improve communication with members
By Amorganda A. Saludar
CEBU CITY February 21 (PIA) -- The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) in Cebu plans to improve communication with its members.
According to GSIS assistant regional manager Atty. Mercedes VPE Enriquez, the agency plans to put up GSIS bulletin in every LGU containing advisories, updates and other important information so that people do not have to go to their office to inquire or to claim for unscheduled claimable benefits.
It will also work with organizations such as the Cebu Association of City and Municipal Public Information Officers (CAOCAMPIO) to better in disseminate information to the public.
Enriquez met recently with members of the CAOCAMPIO to orient them on GSIS mandate and services.
She also talked about technological approaches used by the agency in information dissemination and other modern technologies to channel its services to its members.
“I think with the help of your group, giving important information to our members and pensioners will be light and easy,” Enriquez said.
She then revealed that GSIS also GSIS 7 also pledged to tap the CAOCAMPIO in any legal issues concerning the organization and each information officers’ responsibility to its assigned area.
In response CAOCAMPIO President Florito “Carlo” Dugaduga promised to work with GSIS in educating and informing the public on the importance of GSIS and its services and benefits.
Dugaduga vowed to connect with GSIS any information relevant to the public and to the ordinary people in the community. (mbcn/AS/PIA-CEBU)