Signal spreads its ‘Sina Bo Wewa’ campaign to reach over 60,000

Saturday, 26 October 2013 10:34 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Unilever Sri Lanka’s flagship oral care brand, Signal held their 19th ‘Sina Bo Wewa’ program at Kalutara Tissa Maha Vidyalaya recently. Signal’s award winning program drew over 22,000 people for a fun-filled day on building healthy oral habits and self-esteem as a foundation for success, with free dental screenings conducted by the Sri Lanka Dental Association (SLDA). Recognising that tooth decay is the most common chronic disease of childhood, causing pain and absence from school with many children not having access to basic dental care or the education needed to maintain good oral health, Signal initiated the ‘Sina Bo Wewa’ program. This initiative is now the most far reaching, successful children’s oral health initiative in Sri Lanka. The Sina Bo Wewa campaign was initiated in 2004, under the Signal Oral Health Service (SOHS), the professional relationship arm of Signal. To-date over 800,000 people have participated, 60,000 people have received treatment and over 1,000 national schools have benefitted from this program of increased oral literacy and the promotion of good oral care. Protecting the Sri Lankan smile “We are proud to have helped so many people. Protecting the Sri Lankan smile has always been a goal of ours, and the Sina Bo

Wewa campaign is an integral element of this,” Unilever Sri Lanka Category Head of Oral Care Manojee Dabare said. Dr. Naresha Samarasekara from the SLDA noted, “The SLDA is committed to community service, hence we have been supporting Signal’s Sina Bo Wewa Campaign since its inception in 2004. At the 19th oral camp we provided screening and treatment. For a brighter smile, we have to protect our teeth; therefore conducting such dental camps helps people detect problems pertaining to oral health and protect their teeth and build self-confidence. We are happy to be a part of the ‘Sina Bo Wewa Aubowewa’ campaign.” Doing the right thing the right way Cricketing icon Chaminda Vaas promoted the campaign by urging people to attend the camp and to ‘do the right thing in the right way’, through catchy posters and TV commercials. For two weeks leading up to the event, teams visited 12 areas in the Kalutara district and surrounding areas like Panadura, Horana, Mathugama and Aluthgama, holding door-to-door sales and conducting mini dental camps, providing basic knowledge on dental care. The residents were then invited to the mega edutainment camp. The rest of the community were also engaged from the outset; from local traders to school principals, policemen, health authorities in the region and key stakeholders, with the aim of making a long term impact. The camp had a briefing area with up-to-date information on oral care from dental experts. There was also a brushing area where

participants were taught how best to brush their teeth with help from students from the Faculty of Dental Science, University of Peradeniya. The importance of micro-calcium and fluoride was highlighted in a separate zone. There was also a special dental screening and treatment area on-site, equipped with dental chairs and skilled SLDA dentists. Parents and children were able to participate in a number of interactive games. Signal has previously held camps across the island in areas like Polonnaruwa, Pothupitiya, Debarawewa and Jaffna, with the last camp held in Kuliyapitiya.