Pretoria — The Global Child Dental Health Programme, which aims to raise awareness and promote general oral health hygiene, will be unveiled by the Department of Health, Tuesday.

Deputy Health Minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge will unveil the programme, at the Lerutlhware Primary School in the Bojanala District in the North West, as part of the celebrations for national Oral Health Month.

August has been declared Oral Health Month to create oral health awareness among South Africans under the theme: "A healthy mouth for a healthy lifestyle".

The programme which has been established to improve child dental health will also focus on oral health education and promotion, as well as preventive oral brushing with fluoride toothpaste.

During the month of August, the department will engage in various oral health awareness activities countrywide, including:

•  exhibitions in public places;

•  oral health education in clinics, schools, etc on various oral health related issues like smoking, alcohol, nutrition, HIV and Aids;

•  oral health education with emphasis on mothers in antenatal clinics and baby clinics, with promoting the use of the oral health charter in conjunction with the Road to Health Chart; and

•  screenings of the mouth, and referral for treatment where necessary.

The department will also visit schools and provide pupils with toothbrushes, toothpastes as well as information on general oral health hygiene.