PUBLIC Health Minister Dr George Norton has disclosed to the senior citizens at Uncle Eddie’s Home in Tucville, Georgetown that government had, in 2015, allocated $83,549,000 for dental health services.He urged them, therefore, to recognise the critical importance of practising good dental health, even as Dr Shameer Ali examined them, and those who so require are set to receive dentures.
“We are, of course, in the most joyous and festive season; and giving back to citizens with specialized health care is by far one of the best gifts,” Dr Norton said.
Oral health, he said, is important, regardless of age. It is a human right, and is essential to the general health and overall wellbeing of a person. The mouth, he disclosed, can reflect the state of a person’s general health; and equally, oral diseases can have an impact on a person’s general health.
Maintaining good oral health is vital to sustaining general health, and vice versa, Dr Norton disclosed.
“The government recognises the importance (of maintaining good oral health), and as such, had allocated the sum of $83,549,000 in 2015 for dental health services.”
There are 58 public dental health centres across Guyana, and approximately 90 per cent of the Guyanese population have access to dental health services. The remaining 10 per cent are from mainly hinterland areas, which are difficult to access.
Excluding the batch of dentists who graduated from the University of Guyana in 2015, there are 69 registered dentists, 39 of whom are public practitioners.
Dr Shameer Ali committed to continuing public awareness of the importance of proper oral hygiene.
“We vow to expand our medical outreach programmes, hence making special and frequent visits to homes like Uncle Eddie’s Home,” he declared.