Scores of boys and girls involved in school and orphanage tennis initiatives will learn some valuable lessons in dental education at the Beeline Arena on April 21 as part of a unique health care program organised by the Miss Japan Volunteer Association (MJVA).

“Protecting their teeth is as vital for children as getting their serves and strokes right, and our emphasis would be on a child learning the importance of a toothbrush as much as he or she values a tennis racquet,” Hisae Arai, the Tennis Federation of Cambodia’s global goodwill ambassador and a MJVA volunteer, told the Post yesterday.

“Creating dental awareness at such a young age and encouraging kids to develop protection of teeth as a healthy habit are two of our main objectives,” added the 2011 Miss Japan. This health drive undertaken by MJVA in Cambodia marks the 60th anniversary of friendship and co-operation between the Kingdom and Japan.

TFC Secretary General Tep Rithivit said the Federation was fully supportive of the program. “Dental care is such an important component of a child’s normal growth and I am extremely pleased that our goodwill ambassador, Ms Hisae Arai, has taken the lead in organising this camp,” he said.

Leading Japanese dentist Yuka Makino from the University of Niigata will conduct the checkups along with members of the Organisation of International Support for Dental Education (OISDE).

Commerce minister and TFC president Cham Prasidh heads the list of invitees, which includes 2013 Miss Japan Yukari Koga, 2012 Miss Japan Kiko Arai and Naokimi Kataoka, Chairman of Japan-based security firm Zennikkei and a prime force behind the traditional Miss Japan beauty contests.

The checkups are scheduled to start from 8:30am and go on until noon. Admission is free. Apart from 500 quality toothbrushes to be given away, there are many surprises in store both for the kids and parents accompanying them to the camp.

Local sponsors The Blue Pumpkin and Aquafina, who supplied free snacks and drinking water respectively during the World Tennis Day celebration on March 3, will again lend their support.

A slide show, “Why Do I need to Brush My Teeth”, is part of the academic session, during which the chief dental surgeon will demonstrate the various aspects of dental care using a model molar structure.