WILLEMSTAD - On Sunday, November 10, the dental hygiene group Un Smail pa Kòrsou will host a free dental care day for children and youth from the Santa Maria and Buena Vista neighborhoods. The event will take place at the Sint Antonius College and will offer preventive dental care and education for children aged 0 to 18 years.
Un Smail pa Kòrsou is an initiative of the organization Smiles World, which began distributing toothbrushes and toothpaste to clients of the Food Bank during the COVID period. The idea was enthusiastically received and adapted in Curaçao so that children can receive help in their own neighborhoods. The project is now made possible in part by the Curaçao Dental Hygienists Association, the Help the Schoolchildren of Curaçao Foundation, and coordinator Zulaijka Pinedo-Brandao, in collaboration with Fundashon Salu Pa Tur.
The goal of the project is to make preventive dental care accessible and to raise awareness about oral health, especially among underprivileged families. Participating children will receive education, a dental check-up, and a dental care package. This care is fully covered by sponsors, making the event free for parents and children.
In addition to providing direct care, the project also aims to collect data on the oral health of youth in Curaçao. This edition, the final one in a three-year series, will serve as the basis for an evaluation and potential recommendations for future prevention programs on the island. The organizers hope for a high turnout to gain a good understanding of the oral health of Curaçao's youth.