Henry Schein Cares and ICD partner with Fleur de Vie in Haiti
Henry Schein and the International College of Dentists’ (ICD) Global Visionary Fund (GVF) have once again teamed up to support the oral health of children, this time in Haiti.
Products were donated to the Fleur de Vie’s health awareness and education initiative during its back to school program. From September to December 2018, more than 400 grammar school children attended a one-day program and took part in health education, physical fitness, and recreational activities.
During the day, the pupils received school supplies for the year as well as new toothbrushes and toothpaste. Information in French and Haitian Creole was provided for parents to help inspire them to teach their children how to maintain effective oral health regimes.
The children also received oral health screenings and education regarding the use of their new toothbrushes and were shown how to floss by local dentist and faculty member of the Faculté d’Odontologie de l’Université d’État-d’Hite (Dental Faculty of the State University of Haiti), Dr Mario Sajous. This took place as part of an ongoing oral care project that continues into 2019.
Jennifer Kim Field, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at Henry Schein, said: “Every child deserves not only the opportunity to return to school confident in the knowledge that they have the tools to succeed, but also the best health care possible.
“This Fleur de Vie project not only offers important support for many families by providing students with exactly what they need to meet the challenges of a new school year, but also combines this worthwhile course with oral health prevention and education initiatives that are so crucial for the student’s total health. We are very happy to be able to support this initiative in cooperation with the ICD.”
Fleur De Vie – which means Flower of Life – is a not-for-profit organisation based in New York. Around the world it works with, and supports, initiatives to implement social change in communities in the greatest need.
It consists of a team of professionals who lends their assistance by supporting care programs at a grassroots level which promote transparency while ensuring the focus remains on benefiting the vulnerable and poor who need it most. This work is done in collaboration with other not-for-profit groups that take action in supporting sustainable education, health, and environmental initiatives, activities that have the greatest impact in the longer term.
Fleur De Vie, in partnership with a network of like-minded individuals, businesses, organisations, and communities, are devoted to supporting the needs of struggling groups through fund-raising and promotional campaigns.
Henry Schein’s product donation is an initiative of Henry Schein Cares, the company’s global corporate social responsibility program, which supports health care activities in three main areas: advancing wellness, building capacity in the delivery of health care services, and assisting in emergency preparedness and relief. The support for Fleur de Vie is part of Henry Schein Cares’ long-term partnership with the ICD Global Visionary Fund.
In conjunction with this partnership, the International College of Dentists has inducted three dentists from Haiti, Dr Sajous, alongside Dr Jacques Denis and Dr Tony Cajouste Jean-Pierre, into the Fellowship of the College in recognition of their, "outstanding professional achievements, meritorious services, and dedication to the continued progress of dentistry, for the benefit of humankind".
The initiation ceremony took place last November in New York City where the dentists received their gold Key and Fellowship Certificate.