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Show Heolfh Board Ponders Proposed Test On Fluoride In Schools By TOM BUSSELBERG FARMINGTON State officials are proposing support for a fluoridation education grant and while the Davis County Health Board took no formal action for or again it, Tuesday, response was favorable favor-able to need for a fluoridation program. INITIALLY, the state Health Department Dental Division Di-vision grant would provide $61,000 statewide for education, educa-tion, Acting Health Director Richard E. Harvey said. Additional Addi-tional funding is following years would up the amount to $120,000 and $300,000, allowing allow-ing program expansion to include in-clude purchase of equipment. Mayors will be asked to act , on the grant proposal in a future fu-ture Council of Governments meeting but those attending the regualr monthly helath board meeting Tuesday morning morn-ing in Farmington spoke favorable favor-able for fluoridation activities. COUNTY Nursing Director Dolleen Jewett said, "I'd like to see support for the fluoride rinse program. It has been done in other areas and teachers and parents like it. It takes five minutes of time and one of the mothers (of students) stu-dents) can do it once a week." She said it would cost 70 cents a year per child, for instance, inst-ance, and that amount would be charged only to students participating. BUT BOARD Chairman Dr. Danel Benton said the "biggest "big-gest problem" in implementing implement-ing that program previously came from the Davis Education Educa-tion Association. "They felt it vas an imposition on their (teachers') time." And immediate past DEA President Mary Ellen Leatham said it still would be in a telephone tele-phone interview. "We're in favor, as a general rule, of fluoridation. But the teachers' association would still take the same stand. We don't feel it's the job of the schools. "THESE FLUORIDE rinses take quite a little while (to administer). You see those kids for 6V2 hours a day in elementary school and even if you have the parents do it it will take time out of the day." Schools Superintendent Lawrence Welling said in a telephone interview that w hen the fluoride rinse proposal was made several years ago the "concer we had was the time element and convenience. We felt it might better be done in the home." He would not comment com-ment on any possibility for such a program now. however, saying he had not been contacted con-tacted by the health department. depart-ment. SPEAKING highly in favor of a general fluoidation program prog-ram was County Commissioner Commission-er Ernest Eberhard, a member of the health board. "It's something proven. Anything we can do to get to public consciousness con-sciousness (would be good)." He said when he served as mayor of Preston, Ida., that city was one of three in that state with a fluoride program and a 64 percent decrease in dental problems was reported. MR. HARVEY said any general gen-eral fluoridation program approval would require an election as set by state law. "Davis County would as a whole be difficult to fluoridate because of so many different water systems and sources, (wells, conservancy districts, etc), but some cities could doit. do-it. We'd have to look at each one (water source). As part of an inspection of all public water supplies planned plan-ned for this year, the health department may look at mechanical possibilities for such a system, he said. "PEOPLE COMING in from out of Utah can't understand under-stand why we don't have fluoridation. Utah has the lowest per capita fluoridation (nationwide)," Mr. Harvey said, noting only Brigham City, Hill AFB and an Indian reservation are so equipped. |