Dental Hygiene Education in Mexico
Organization | Soulgives Company |
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Region | Costa Rica |
Website | Website |
ProjectLeader | Gary Scheirman |
Linked Problems & Solutions
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SoulGives is directing an 18-24 month program in Cozumel to educate 5,000 children and adults about effects of frequent sugar consumption and to teach them proper dental hygiene. We seek donations to fund dental products and educational materials, and then sponsor follow-up treatment from local dentists for those needing special care.
Challenge
Mexico has the highest per capital consumption of sugared drinks in the world. Parents often feed infants sugared drinks daily and typically this behavior will continue into adulthood. Consequently, it is not unusual for Mexican children to consume more Coca Cola than water every day. Combine this with bad dental hygiene and oral problems easily occur.
Long-Term Impact
We are confident that not only will the program significantly alleviate severe dental issues, but it will help two other prevalent health problems in Mexico, obesity and diabetes. More than 70% of Mexicans are obese. Diabetes is now the fifth largest killer in the country and has a consistent 20 yearly rise. The devastating effects of these conditions can be mitigated simply with better nutrition to decrease sugar intake, but it must have a component of educating the children.
References
Additional Documentation
https://www.globalgiving.org//pfil/57166/projdoc.pdf
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