Suyana Foundation and Colgate-Palmolive promote oral health for 14,000 students in rural areas of La Paz, Bolivia

La Paz, May 19, 2025

After the break, dozens of students line up in front of hygiene stations installed inside their schools. Toothbrushes, toothpaste and cups are now part of a daily routine aimed at strengthening hygiene habits and promoting oral health prevention from early childhood.

Students from a rural school participate in oral hygiene activities promoted by Suyana Foundation and Colgate-Palmolive as part of the Healthy Municipality Program.

The initiative is the result of a partnership between Suyana Foundation and Colgate-Palmolive, aimed at promoting oral hygiene kits and preventive oral health actions for thousands of schoolchildren in rural communities.

Through its educational program Bright Smiles, Bright Futures, Colgate-Palmolive supports oral health education campaigns and collaborates with the Healthy Municipality Program through initiatives led by the Dentistry area of Suyana Foundation to strengthen healthy oral hygiene habits among students in rural schools. As part of this partnership, the company contributes oral hygiene kits for children in rural communities.

During the 2024–2026 period, the initiative reached more than 14,000 children between the ages of 6 and 12 from 318 schools across nine rural municipalities in the department of La Paz through the distribution of 18,816 oral hygiene kits containing toothpaste and toothbrushes.

Students from a school in the municipality of Humanata participate in oral hygiene promotion activities and daily toothbrushing practices supported by Suyana Foundation.

In a context where dental cavities remain one of the most widespread health problems among Bolivian children, data from Bolivia’s Ministry of Health —included in the Technical and Administrative Procedures for Dentistry Guidelines— indicate that the prevalence of cavities among children aged 6 to 12 reaches 93%. This situation is mainly associated with high sugar consumption, limited oral hygiene education and restricted access to dental care services.

Students from a rural school strengthen oral hygiene and self-care practices through educational activities promoted by the Healthy Municipality Program.

“In Bolivia, the rate of dental cavities remains severe, and this situation drives us to promote prevention through the development of daily toothbrushing habits — something that can only be achieved by working closely with schools and ensuring access to basic hygiene materials in hygiene stations. Thanks to these oral hygiene kits, we are strengthening these practices in schools today. This support represents a bridge to health and equity for children in rural areas, who often have more limited access to oral hygiene materials,” said Zulma Cabezas, coordinator of the Dentistry area at Suyana Foundation Bolivia.

In addition to the distribution of oral hygiene kits, Suyana Foundation supports the implementation of hygiene stations within schools and training processes for teachers, who then replicate hygiene practices with students in the classroom.

Hygiene station implemented in a rural school to promote daily hygiene practices and strengthen self-care habits among students.

In communities where access to specialized dental care may require long travel distances, prevention continues to be one of

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