Colgate-Palmolive Fiji general manager Jarrod Parker confirmed that they would send two final year students to attend the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) conference in Perth next month.

“This year Colgate is again sponsoring two students to attend the IADR conference next month and we wish them well as they represent the Pacific,” Mr Parker said.

“Since 2007, final year dental students have been the recipients of the Colgate – IADR Travel award and it is pleasing to note that the recipients have also included students from other Pacific islands.”

He made the statement during his official address at the opening of the 2018 Fiji Dental Association (FDA) annual conference that was held at Hilton Fiji Beach Resort and Spa yesterday.

This is part of the organisation’s support initiatives to educational programmes in enhancing and broadening the knowledge of would-be practitioners and creating more awareness in schools around Fiji.

Mr Parker said ever since Colgate-Palmolive Fiji was established they had been involved in oral health education; providing schools with educational materials, toothbrushes and toothpaste.

These educational programmes had, however, been expanded to other Pacific Island countries after the official launching of the “Bright Smiles Bright Futures” (BSBF) programme back in 1996.

“Colgate has now established its program partners, standardised its educational materials and expanded its program scope to be relevant to the health plans of these countries,” he said.

“The BSBF programme establishes partnerships with governments, dental professionals, schools and communities; these partnership with dental professionals go all the way back to the very beginnings of Colgate toothpaste more than 200 years ago.”

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

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