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Challenged kids benefit from oral care program

Nearly 2,800 physically and mentally challenged children under 12 years old have benefited from free oral healthcare services provided by Kaohsiung County between 2002 and last year, a local official said yesterday.

The official from the Kaohsiung County Health Bureau said that the county government had spent over NT$2.7 million (US$86,581) to provide the service to children who cannot take good care of their teeth on their own.

HELPING THOUSANDS

The subsidy program has helped cover dental examination fees for about 1,100 people and treatment fees for about 1,700, the official said.

The service allows children who have a special dental healthcare “passport” issued by the county government to receive full subsidies from the county government to pay for examinations or treatment that national health insurance does not cover, including registration fees, charges for special dental fillings, braces and fluoride treatment, the official said.

NETWORK OF CARE

A total of 67 oral healthcare institutes around the county have joined the service network and have received training on how to provide dental care to disabled children, who sometimes require more patience and care during treatment procedures, the official said.

To make people more aware of the importance of oral hygiene, the county government also provides a free oral examination for each member of the public every year, the official said.
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