Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, Governor of Haryana, inaugurated the "ANANT MUSKAAN" program, focusing on primary school-based tooth brushing and oral health education in India. The launch event, held at PGIMER, Chandigarh, marks a significant step towards improving oral health among primary school children nationwide.
The initiative, led by the Oral Health Sciences Centre at PGIMER and funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), aims to enhance oral hygiene practices in approximately 360,000 children across 3,082 schools in eight districts. Prof. Ashima Goyal, Head of the Centre, detailed the program's goals, emphasizing its structured regimen of daily tooth brushing, comprehensive oral health education, regular check-ups, and training for teachers and parents.
Panchkula is the first district to implement this program, covering 70,000 children in 447 schools. The program involves various stakeholders, including government and educational authorities, school administrators, teachers, parents, community health workers, and the Oral Health Sciences Centre, ensuring its success and sustainability.
Prof. Vivek Lal, Director of PGI, highlighted the Centre's long-standing commitment to children's oral health since 1985. Governor Dattatreya praised the initiative's innovative approach, stressing the importance of oral health in overall well-being and the state's support for such efforts.