Steem4Health: Free Dental Outreach Programs Enter the Second Phase!
The month of August has been an intense and transformative period for me. I went from quitting my job, to embarking on a solo trip to Kashmir to clear my head, to receiving devastating news about my father’s heart condition while I was still in the mountains. Being stuck so far away made the situation even more challenging, but I managed to return to Karachi just in time to be with him for his life-changing surgery. These personal challenges forced me to put a hold on several important commitments, one of which was the Second Phase of the Free Dental Outreach Programs
For those familiar with my work, you might recall that the first phase of our free dental outreach programs concluded in July, during which we successfully visited seven schools. These programs aim to reach underprivileged schools, primarily public institutions where the government provides minimal support, and basic necessities are often neglected. Our mission has been to focus on improving oral health awareness and access to dental care among children, particularly in schools that lack infrastructure and resources.
The outreach programs are designed to cater to students aged between 5 and 15 years. Our primary goal is to provide free dental check-ups and impart dental education that can lead to long-term improvements in the oral health of these children. Additionally, we are committed to raising awareness about the importance of oral hygiene and helping these students develop good dental habits early in life.
Each dental outreach program is divided into two main components: a Dental Check-Up Day and a Focused Group Discussion Day. The Dental Check-Up Day is dedicated to providing high-quality dental assessments for the students. We aim to identify any potential oral health issues, offer preventive advice, and, in cases where necessary, refer students for further dental treatment.
The second day, the Focused Group Discussion Day, is where we bring together students, their parents, and the school’s teachers to have an open dialogue about oral health. During this discussion, students are asked about their current knowledge of dental hygiene practices, and we provide guidance on how they can improve their oral care routines.
Teachers are engaged in conversations about the school curriculum, particularly how much emphasis it places on oral health education. We suggest possible improvements or additions to their curriculum to ensure students receive adequate instruction on oral hygiene. Moreover, we discuss the potential for further dental outreach programs that could reinforce these lessons.
Parents also play a critical role in this discussion. We ask them about how much attention they give to their children's dental care at home and offer advice on how they can contribute to maintaining their kids' oral health. By involving all three groups—students, teachers, and parents—we aim to create a supportive environment that prioritizes the dental well-being of children.
This approach ensures that no matter what, the oral health of these children will not be overlooked, and that all parties are invested in sustaining these improvements over time.
For the first week of our outreach program, we were incredibly fortunate to secure sponsorship from Colgate Pvt LTD. Colgate, a globally recognized brand, is dedicated to improving oral health through its range of oral hygiene products. Their sponsorship was a significant boost for our initiative, as it provided us with essential supplies. Thanks to Colgate, we were able to distribute free toothpaste and toothbrushes to the students, along with providing food packets for all the volunteers involved in the program.
In exchange for their generous support, we agreed to display Colgate's marketing banners throughout the event, and their team members, proudly dressed in Colgate-branded T-shirts, were present to show their support.
The school we selected for this outreach was the Educators School, located in the bustling Saddar area of Karachi. This institution serves a large number of students, approximately 600, ranging from pre-nursery classes to grade 10. The school’s student body represented the diverse backgrounds of the community, and we were eager to make a positive impact on their oral health and overall well-being.
On that day, we distributed over 600 packets of toothbrushes and toothpaste to the students. Honestly, I don’t think we could have pulled it off without the support we received. With the budget being stretched thin, I was incredibly fortunate to connect with Colgate and bring them on board as sponsors. Their contribution made a world of difference to our efforts.
I suppose this is one of the benefits of being in this field for a while—you start to build connections and meet people who are willing to support important causes. There are genuinely a lot of good-hearted people out there who want to make a difference, especially for underprivileged communities, but they often lack the proper channels to do so. That's where initiatives like ours come in, providing the opportunity for people and organizations to direct their resources and efforts towards impactful causes.
This experience also reinforced my belief in the power of teamwork. Without the collaborative efforts of everyone involved, from the volunteers to the sponsors, we wouldn’t have been able to achieve what we did. It’s important to help people in any way you can, whenever you can. I truly believe in the concept of karma—what you give out to the world, whether good or bad, will eventually come back to you. That’s why I always aim to put out positivity and support, knowing it will make a difference not just for others but also for myself in the long run.
In this moment, I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Steemit Inc team. Their generosity during the first phase of our dental outreach programs in 2024 won’t be forgotten, and their support helped lay the foundation for what has been a successful initiative.
Regards
Dr Huzaifa Naveed