–says Health Minister

By Cindy Parkinson
WHILE highlighting the importance of oral health, Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony said on Monday that efforts are currently being made to improve dental services across the country.

He made these comments at the launch of Oral Health Month, at the ministry’s Regional Health Services building in New Amsterdam, Berbice.

Founded some 20 years ago by the former Principal Dental Officer Dr. Joannes Jean, and the former Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, it is being celebrated this year under the theme, “Be proud of your mouth for your happiness and well-being.”

In his address, Dr. Anthony congratulated dentists across Guyana for ensuring that citizens have good oral health.

He emphasised that there is need for the return of the school programme, where a dentist visits schools and ensures that the children are brushing their teeth and taking care of their oral health in the manner that they should.

Minister Anthony explained that even though the COVID-19 pandemic was a challenging time for the health sector, the dental health services found a way to work with the people and did not let the pandemic deter them from doing their jobs.

He further explained that right now, his ministry is trying to make sure that enough people are trained and deployed to all regions.

Further, he said that officials are currently examining each region to see what the current deficit is in terms of equipment and infrastructure, dental supplies and personnel. The idea would be to put measures in place to correct these issues so that the public would get a more efficient service.

Dr. Anthony noted that the Government of Guyana and the Ministry of Health are working towards expanding the dental facilities by adding new sites in the various regions.

OPEN MORE SITES
He added that it is because of the “unmet need” of the people of Region Six that the ministry has decided to open additional sites so that more people can easily access the services.

In Region Six, there are new sites at Number 64 Village and at Brothers Health Centre. Residents are benefitting tremendously from the services provided there.

“I am told that because of the rate at which we’ve been working and the encouragement of people coming out and accessing these services, in 2023, we are going to expand. We are going to put a chair at Cumberland in Canje to make sure that we can also help the people in that area as well,” Dr. Anthony said.

He noted that as much as “expansion is good,” there is a need to educate all Guyanese on how to avoid oral health issues.

The minister advised the dentists and dental students who were sitting in the audience, to hold community programmes so that persons could be provided with information about their oral hygiene and can also get advice on problems they may have.

Meanwhile, Principal Dental Surgeon, Dr. Marvin Monize, in his presentation, reminded everyone that “the mouth is linked to the entire body. Therefore, diseases of the mouth affect the body like diseases of the body can affect the mouth.”

Dr. Monize pointed out that very often, dental providers fail their patients by not explaining to them that their “chronic illness” can have a significant impact on the mouth.

According to him, people who suffer from arthritis, heart disease, stroke or diabetes can all develop dental issues.

He used the occasion to urge all dental operators and physicians to be mindful of the links and to remember that the links exist.

He also urged them to make the necessary referrals before “it’s too late” for the patient.

Regional Chairman of Region Six, David Armogan; the Dental Education Officer at the Cheddi Jagan Dental Centre, Rei-Launya Amsterdam; Dentex at F.E. Pollard Primary School, Orinthia Bishop, and dentists from the Georgetown Dental School, were also in attendance.

Minister Anthony later visited and met with staff of the New Amsterdam Hospital, Brothers Health Centre, Port Mourant Hospital and the Port Mourant Health Centre.