Colgate-Palmolive handed seven thousand starter kits to NCD Health Services and Gerehu General Hospital to promote the ‘Mum You First’ campaign.
It aims to encourage mothers and caregivers to get their children into the habit of keeping their teeth and gums healthy.
The occasion was witnessed by staff and hospital visitors at the Well Baby Clinic vicinity of the Gerehu General Hospital on Thursday.
General manager for Colgate-Palmolive, John Wood, said the campaign will help direct mothers, who are usually a child’s first role model, to take an extra 2 minutes to brush their teeth with their children.
Emphasising this important point was Lynda Babao-O’Neill, wife of the Prime Minister and chief guest at the event.
Mrs O’Neill stressed that from a very early age, children most often imitate what their mothers do, most of which are domestic activities.
She said mothers can be a big influence on their children in developing a lifelong habit of good oral health practices.
Dr Steven Yennie, CEO of the Gerehu General Hospital, said the partnership is timely as the hospital will soon be operating a dental service.
The Kits were then presented to Colgate’s partners.
An additional 5 thousand kits will be provided to Lae District Health Services for distribution to 20 urban clinics and hospitals.
The kits consist of a child’s toothbrush, adult’s toothbrush, Colgate toothpaste and fun educational flyers.
‘Mum You First’ is reaching out to mothers and caregivers of children as young as 18 months old.
