328. Analysis of the National Study of Prevalence of Oral Diseases in 2008 (Part 6)

Children and young people with dental caries

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Reading the National Study of Prevalence of Oral Diseases in 2008 shows that tooth decay affects too alarming levels among children and youth of our country. The situation can be said that almost catastrophic, because the percentage of affected children reaches 49% at 6 years of age, reaching 72% at 15 years of age. This finding should be, first, absolutely vital concern in terms of health education at the primary level.

At a time when the advance party youth projects for introduction of other facilities and strengthening educational, it is quite urgent to tackle the problem of oral health that grace combined, so overwhelming, affecting the vast majority of the school population and physical and psychological consequences unpredictable for the future.

You can not get a clear conscience when we learn that 88.5% of adolescents aged 15 years in the Azores and 75.4% of adolescents aged 15 to submit dental caries in Alentejo, knowing of the billions of euros in funds that the country enjoys from the Europe Union.

This is why it is urgent and necessary to change the irrational policies of governments followed by oral health in Portugal since April 25, 1974, it is inconceivable that in a European Union member country, children and young people continue to be treated in a discriminatory manner in which the origin of social class determines their access to health care (something that happens today in Portugal and that is more typical of a Third World country).

Thus, it is also you, dear reader of this blog, to denounce this situation and warn the public, children and young people of today are the men who tomorrow will shape the future of our country. Do not let a summit of political leaders and incipient have the right to limit and constrain the physical and psychological development of those who are men and women of Portugal in the next generation.

Link: Estudo Nacional de Prevalência das Doenças Orais

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Final note: Is the Presidency of the Republic will be available to perform a week open nationally on the issue of provision of primary health care to the population, including their access to oral health care? Is a suggestion of who is on the ground and knows the reality.