Philippines' GAB Set to Provide Free Dental Care to Filipino Boxers

By Carlos Costa

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines Games an Amusement Board (GAB), the country’s government organization that regulates and oversees pro boxing hits yet another revolutionary achievement in the sport as it embarks itself in providing free dental care to all Filipino licensed boxers.

Headed by former governor and congressman Baham Mitra, 48, the GAB already provides total free medical care to boxers in the country, including brain scans at any government hospital in the nation, a profound initiative that prompted the WBC to name GAB as “Commission of the Year” back in 2017.

This time around GAB has partnered with experts of the Philippine Center for Sports Dentistry and Dental Sleep Medicine to launch its 2019 “Dental Outreach Program,” inviting all licensed boxers to GAB Head Office here in Manila on this coming Thursday, March 14, when doctors will provide fighters with dental services.

The dental services provided include thorough head, neck, and mouth assessment; oral prophylaxis (cleaning); dental restoration (pasta); and extractions (if needed, hopefully not).

In addition, GAB has arranged for doctors to talk to boxers on important topics regarding their health. Talks include an awareness lecture on the importance of full body protection, especially the use of proper fitting customized professional mouthguards.

Moreover, doctors will share with boxers about total dental care habits and practices and will provide information on the overall benefits of dental sleep medicine to boxers in order to obtain optimum capability in the sport.

All licensed boxers are invited. They just have to call GAB main office before March 12 to pre-register. The telephone is 810 5177.

The author Carlos Costa is a Panama boxing reporter living in Cebu, Philippines. Carlos can be reached by email carlos512@hotmail.com and Whatsapp/Viber: +639184538152.