Marlene Farrugia extends free dentistry scheme to deprived children

Independent MP and dentist Marlene Farrugia will extend her novel offer for free dental services to children from vulnerable families.

Farrugia, who recently set up the new Democratic Party, had earlier announced that her clinic will between July and September offer free check-ups, fillings, extractions and scalings for children whose parents can scant afford to pay for private dental care.

It was originally open to children who live in Bormla, Birgu, Zejtun, Xghajra, Marsaxlokk, Birzebbugia, Zurrieq, Qrendi, Mqabba, Kirkop, Hal-Safi, Kalkara, Isla, and Zabbar.

However, Farrugia has now announced that the scheme will be extended to children from Fgura, Marsa, Valletta, Gzira, St Paul’s Bay, Bugibba, St Julians and Qormi.

Her altruistic offer is open for children whose parents are unemployed, on the minimum wage, pink card owners, or young students.

Those interested in an appointment can contact her Birgu clinic on 21641205, her Siggiewi clinic on 21461682, her Zebbug clinic on 21461131 for her appointment, or Farrugia directly through Facebook or on 99432407.

Marlene Farrugia was re-elected to Parliament on the Labour ticket in 2013, along with her partner Godfrey Farrugia – the current PL whip and former health minister. She was an outspoken internal critic of the Labour government before resigning from the party last November in protest at a Bill to split up the Malta Environment and Planning Authority into two separate authorities. However, she maintained her parliamentary seat and has remained vociferous in her criticism of the Labour government – particularly on issues related to corruption, governance and the environment.

Earlier this month, she set up the new ‘Democratic Party’, insisting that a new political force is necessary to counter “tribalism and the traditional parties”.

“A new political force is required, led by people whose success is the result of their own work and sacrifices and not by jumping on some political bandwagon, which opened for them one door after the other whilst other people had to be disciplined and work hard to achieve similar results,” the DP said in its first statement to the public.