ORAL Health Month was, on Friday, launched under the theme ‘Improving Oral Health through Prevention and Education’ with the Ministry of Public Health, in collaboration with Colgate-Palmolive, kick-starting activities in Bartica.

The day began with hundreds of students accompanied by teachers and healthcare workers marching out from the Bartica Hospital, sporting bright smiles and colourful balloons as they chanted in support of good oral health practices.

Defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as “a state of being free from chronic mouth and facial pain, oral and throat cancer, oral infection and sores, periodontal (gum) disease, tooth decay, tooth loss, and other diseases and disorders that limit an individual’s capacity in biting, chewing, smiling, speaking, and psychosocial wellbeing,” oral health is a topical issue throughout the world.

With the Oral Health March culminated at the community centre, the second part of the day’s activities began. Delivering the keynote address for the launching ceremony was Region Seven Chairman, Gordon Bradford, who commended the Public Health Ministry for choosing Bartica as the place for the launch.

Bradford said the services are needed in Bartica and that he is pleased that children in the region will benefit. While the Regional Chairman acknowledged the importance of the preceding awareness walk, a call was made for those present to take, “necessary action to correct this situation [poor dental health]”.

Deputy Permanent Secretary (DPS) within the Public Health Ministry, Glendon Fogenay, emphasised the government’s commitment towards enhancing the oral health of the nation. According to the DPS, Budget 2019 is reflective of that pledge to Guyanese.

DPS Fogenay outlined the current budget had made possible, “the procurement of dental units, surgical high and low-speed hand pieces, ultra-sonic scalers,” among other equipment. It was noted that continuous maintenance of the dental equipment and its facilities, in addition to training of new dental personnel and an upgrade to training for staff, have all been some of the major takeaways from Budget 2019.

As such, with 2020 on the horizon, the DPS announced plans to purchase more dental equipment as the ministry aggressively pushes towards improving dental care. For Region Seven, some of these pieces of machinery will include portable dental chairs, high and low-speed handpieces and ultrasonic scalers with tips.

It was the manager of the Cheddi Jagan Dental Centre, Paul Clarke, who further encouraged the students to care for their teeth and gums. While the manager underscored the severity of poor oral health that may be linked to diabetes, heart disease, and other long-term health issues, students were motivated to adopt positive oral health habits at their young age instead.

For 2020, the manager unveiled plans to utilise, “printable patient materials on a variety of topics such as oral health instrumental videos, developed specifically for children”.
Over the following three days, the Public Health Ministry and their sponsor, Colgate-Palmolive, will be present in the remote villages of Region Seven as they conduct dental screenings, examinations, fillings, cleaning and provide sound education on oral health.

(DPI)