Bring back dental clinics at schools

• Published date: 08 March 2021
• Date: 08 March 2021
• Publication title: New Zealand Herald, The (Auckland, New Zealand)

These numbers are staggering and appalling but the blame falls squarely on successive governments who have paid low wages. The poverty gap is ever widening, people can only afford cheap junk type food, dental work is unaffordable with both parents working, lack of transport and time to visit even a mobile clinic in another suburb.

NZ had a world class dental service with a dental clinic and nurse on every school site and frequent dental hygiene lessons freely given. People had access to natural foods and salt replaced the expense of toothpaste. Messages of daily teeth cleaning necessity were constantly in children’s faces. Some schools even resorted to teeth cleaning in the classrooms as a daily routine.

Tooth decay is one of the most toxic poisons affecting the whole body. Cardiac surgeons will not operate on people with severe teeth decay. Imagine the effect it has on a small child’s wellbeing. It impacts on sleep, nutrition, ability to concentrate in school, plus their physical and mental wellbeing.

Now these clinics have been turned into storerooms, one-to-one teaching spaces, libraries, computer suites, etc and 17000 children in Auckland alone are missing out on an essential service.

I really despair when I look back to what NZ had and does not have today.

Marie Kaire, Whangārei.

Food lobbyistsAt last the powerful NZ Food & Grocery Council and its chief executive have been exposed to the public. Herald writer Simon Wilson has again done the public a favour with his clear explanation of the forces working against the public good.

If you’ve ever wondered why professional lobbyists working to improve our health never seem to scratch the surface of large companies such as Coca-Cola and KFC who peddle fatty foods and sugary drinks, here is the answer. It’s been a long time coming, but finally the truth is out — don’t miss it.

M.Carol Scott, Birkenhead.

Erebus memorialsThe Erebus Disaster happened 40 years ago. The only memorial should be to remember what happened on that day and not repeat the blunder.

A plaque should be on Mt Erebus. An annual award to future young navigators or pilots would be a practical memorial. Nothing more need be done. Leave the pā site alone.

Gillian Dance, Mt Albert.

Monitor isolatorsThe time has come that we cannot solely rely on trust regarding voluntary isolation any more. The cost of breaches, as it has turned out, is simply to be too high.

One way of getting some security is by electronic monitoring with an ankle bracelet to...