A $100,000 grant has been awarded to an oral health program on Maui to help native Hawaiian mothers and children. The grant from the Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) Foundation to the program at the University of Hawai’i Maui College (UHMC) will provide educational sessions and oral health screenings in the community, according to a story on Mauinow.com.
The program will also provide an opportunity for UHMC students to get hands-on service-learning experience in the field of oral health. The Improving Oral Health for Native Hawaiian Prenatal Mothers and Children program is offered through a collaboration between UHMC, Hui No Ke Ola Pono, and Maui schools.
The program provides direct outreach at Maui schools, churches, and health fairs, to 3rd-and 7th-grade students, and women who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Through this outreach, women and children receive oral health and blood pressure screenings and recommended preventive dental care. Services include dental cleanings, sealants, fluoride varnish, and referral for further treatment when necessary.
The program will screen hundreds of children and approximately 50 prenatal women, the story noted.
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