TERAMO – This morning, at the Diocesan Caritas headquarters in Teramo, the event “ANDI Teramo meets the Caritas kids” took place. A delegation of dentists from the provincial section of the National Association of Italian Dentists (ANDI), with the presence and blessing of the Bishop of the Diocese of Teramo-Atri, Msgr. Lorenzo Leuzzi, and the Vice Prefect Luana Strippoli, gave a demonstration lesson on basic oral hygiene procedures and donated toothbrushes and toothpastes to the approximately 100 people present.
It was a wonderful experience for both the kids who participated, to whom we hope to have taught some basic but fundamental notions – explains the president of ANDI Teramo, Luca De Santis – both for me and my colleagues, doctors Cardelli, Ciardelli, De Dominicis and Testa, given that we had a splendid opportunity to interact with a reality different from our everyday life. The massive presence and attention shown by the children during the lesson testify to how aware they are that prevention represents the main means by which to protect their health. For us dentists, already engaged in similar initiatives in the area for several years, it was an opportunity to reiterate that, as an integral part of the social fabric, we are ready to meet the requests and needs that come from our community. We thank the Deputy Director of the Teramo-Atri Diocesan Caritas Anna D’Eustacchio and Umberto Cantarelli for the cordial invitation they extended to us, we welcomed it with enthusiasm >>.
The ANDI section of Teramo, over the years, has been notable for various initiatives including the Adopt a Smile project, through which free dental care is provided to minors hosted in group homes, and the donation of protective devices to Teramo hospital during the Covid-19 emergency.
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**Beyond the collaboration with Caritas, what specific strategies does ANDI Teramo employ to engage with other organizations and community members in promoting oral health awareness and access to care?**
## Interview: Smiles for Everyone: ANDI Teramo’s Commitment to Oral Healthcare
**Host:** Welcome everyone to World Today News. Today we are joined by two esteemed guests to discuss a heartwarming initiative by the National Association of Italian Dentists, ANDI Teramo. We have with us Luca De Santis, President of ANDI Teramo, and Anna D’Eustacchio, Deputy Director of the Teramo-Atri Diocesan Caritas.
**Thank you both for joining us.**
**Luca & Anna:** It’s our pleasure.
**Host:** Let’s start by discussing the event ”ANDI Teramo meets the Caritas Kids”. Luca, can you tell us a little bit about its purpose and how it came about?
**Luca:** (explains the goal of promoting oral hygiene among children assisted by Caritas, the collaboration with Caritas, and the decision to provide practical demonstrations and giveaways).
**Host:** This sounds like a valuable initiative. Anna, from the perspective of Caritas, what was the impact of this event on the children attending?
**Anna:** (shares observations about the children’s engagement and enthusiasm, the importance of health education for vulnerable communities, and the gratitude towards ANDI’s generosity).
**Host:** This event seems to highlight a broader commitment by ANDI Teramo to community outreach. Luca, can you elaborate on other projects undertaken by your association? You mentioned “Adopt a Smile” and donations during the Covid-19 emergency.
**Luca:** (provides details about “Adopt a Smile”, explaining the process of providing free dental care to children in group homes, and discusses the reasons behind supporting Teramo hospital during the pandemic).
**Host:** These are truly inspiring examples of social responsibility. Anna, from Caritas’s experience, how vital is community support from organizations like ANDI in assisting marginalized communities?
**Anna:** (highlights the importance of partnerships between public institutions, local associations, and organizations like ANDI in addressing social needs, emphasizing the cascading positive impacts of such collaborations).
**Host:** Moving forward, what are the future aspirations for ANDI Teramo in contributing to the well-being of the community?
**Luca:**
(discusses plans for expanding outreach, engaging in more educational programs, collaborating with other organizations, and advocating for greater access to oral healthcare for everyone).
**Host:** That’s wonderful to hear. Lastly, Anna, what message would you like to share with individuals and organizations looking for ways to make a difference in their communities?
**Anna:**
(encourages individuals and organizations to identify local needs, find partners to amplify their efforts, and emphasizes the power of even small acts of kindness and generosity ).
**Host:** Thank you both for sharing your time and insights with us today. This has been a truly enlightening conversation, highlighting the importance of community involvement and the transformative power of collaboration.
**Luca & Anna:**
(express their gratitude for the opportunity).
**Host:** And thank you, our viewers, for joining us. We hope this discussion has inspired you to find ways to contribute to the well-being of your own local communities.
