PH military gets P9-M aid from OFI for troops’ oral health and wellness program
AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. and OFI President James Lorenzana at the General Headquarters Building inside Camp Aguinaldo.
About P9-million worth of dental equipment will be donated to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) from the Okada Foundation, Inc. (OFI) to military enhance its oral health and wellness program for the troops.
The Memorandum of Agreement for the donation was signed on Monday by OFI President James Lorenzana and AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. at the General Headquarters Building at Camp Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
OFI’s donation to the AFP includes a Dental Cone Beam Computed Tomography System (CBCT), a Dental Lab Surgical Operating Microscope (an oral surgery microscope), and dental loupes.
The foundation, according to Lorenzana, seeks to contribute to the improvement of the health and support services that the troops receive.
“Oral hygiene is a vital part of our health, and we want to contribute to the comprehensive and holistic wellness of our troops, which is conducive to their preparedness and mission capabilities,” stated Lorenzana. The donation, Lorenzana added, is OFI’s way to express its “continued care and support for our troops and their families.”
Brawner affirmed the significance of the dental equipment grant, stating that the partnership with OFI helps the AFP improve its focus on an “often overlooked aspect of healthcare, which is dental health.”
“A soldiers’ readiness to serve and protect our nation is intimately linked to their physical and mental well-being.”
“Issues such as dental pain and disease can significantly impact a soldier’s performance, affecting their concentration, endurance, and overall ability to fulfill their duties,” he added.
According to the AFP’s Office of the Chief Dental Service head Brigadier General Angelica de Lara-Torres, the grant “comes at a necessary point in time” for the fulfillment of their division’s current objective, which was to “increase the number of dentally-fit AFP personnel.”
The AFP in February participated in the observance of the 20th National Oral Health Month, culminating in its Oral Health Fair 2024.
The CBCT system included in the grant – the first of its kind that the AFP will receive – is a dental health implement that provides a 3D x-ray and scan of a patient’s teeth, mouth, jaw, and neck, as well as their ears, nose, and throat.
It’s a “timely” donation for the AFP, according to de Lara-Torres, empowering the AFP’s dentists to give a “faster and more accurate diagnosis, leading to faster and quicker interventions and improved health outcomes.” On top of this, the CBCT system allows for “greater precision in complex procedures, ensuring that our personnel receive the best possible care,” leading to an overall healthier and more resilient force.
OFI’s donation, she continued, “translates directly into enhanced operational readiness and improved quality of life for our troops and their families.”
“We’re happy to find out that we are playing a humble part in the history of AFP, given that the CBCT system they’ll be receiving is the first of its kind of technology among the equipment of their Dental Service office,” Lorenzana remarked.
The OFI president expressed an optimistic outlook for the foundation’s partnership with the AFP, sharing their intention to donate more dental or other healthcare equipment in the future.
“We hope to continue being a partner of the AFP in improving the health and wellness of our troops, which is why we are looking into the donation of more equipment such as these to all the major branches of our armed forces,” said Lorenzana.
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