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Ongoing project begun 2 years ago

The fluoridation of common table salt for countries with high dental decay rates will significantly improve the dental health of the poor of those countries. In Honduras it is projected to drop decay rates by 65%. For an investment of $110,000.00 the Pan American Health Organization believes the project can be introduced. It will cost the population 6 cents per person per year to maintain. (The U.S. system costs 50 cents per person per year.)

In the US the average 12 year old has 0.8 decayed, missing or filled teeth; in Honduras the average 12 year old has 7 or more decayed, or missing teeth. Each $1.00 will provide a reduction of 14 dental appointments.

Attached are photos of the salt fluoridation equipment that is in operation in Bolivia, and that group is willing to make the equipment for Honduras.

Hurricane Mitch set the project back and new studies of the amount of fluoride in the local water supplies must be done. The DWP here in Los Angeles offered to provide containers to take water samples to do the studies.

A study to count the numbers of decayed missing and filled teeth on the average 12 year-old must be redone. I will be working with several dentists in Honduras during the month of July to begin - hopefully complete - that study. Laws must be passed to make mandatory the distribution of fluoridated salt to the areas where fluoride concentration is low in the local water.

The local salt manufacturers must be trained and provided with the initial equipment to begin the project. Special equipment and a monitoring system must be provided so the quality of the fluoridated salt is maintained.

Our club has collected $10,600.00 that is in the Rotary District 5260 Foundation - planned to use for matching grant when we can put the project together. In July we will be planning how our Rotary Club working with matching funds can help advance this project.

Barbara R. Pampalone D.D.S.

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Chatsworth Dental Group
21800 Devonshire Street Chatsworth, CA 91311 
818-709-1200