Mary Ito, RDH and Sue Hochu, RDH, members of the Northumberland Oral Health Coalition (NOHC) recently presented oral hygiene items – toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, denture care items, etc. to Adam Hudson, Registered Dietician and Sarah Pilatzkie, Dental Coordinator at the Community Health Centres of Northumberland (CHCN) in Port Hope.
Many area residents struggle financially and can find it difficult to buy needed oral hygiene items.
To help with this, NOHC members have been handing out supplies to those in need – free of charge – at various locations in Cobourg and Port Hope, including the CHCN, for the past 6 years.
The NOHC does not receive regular funding and has only been able to continue with their initiative due to the generosity of donations from local residents, as well as being recipients of a 2023 Town of Cobourg Municipal Community Grant and a 2023 Municipality of Port Hope Donation.
This has enabled the NOHC to increase to 4 locations where their items are now being distributed, as well as to include items such as toothbrush covers being offered.
The primary mission of the NOHC, a local voluntary community group, is to advocate for equitable access to affordable oral care for all residents.
They have been doing this locally since 2005 and their members are also involved at the provincial and national level because in order to have a healthy body, a person needs to have a healthy mouth!
For further information on NOHC’s advocacy efforts or to donate to help purchase oral hygiene supplies for area residents in need, contact Sue Hochu at suehochu@hotmail.com.
