14 Sep 2016

Residents of Phuduhudu  have been encouraged to take advantage of an oral health project in their village.

Speaking during the Oral Health Day commemoration in Phuduhudu on Monday (September 12), the Minister of Health, Ms Dorcas Makgato said oral health affected the wellbeing of an individual, therefore it was vital for people to maintain good oral health.

The oral health project, she said, offered services of oral health screening, treatment and workshops to the community.

Ms Makgato said the project raised awareness and allowed patients follow ups during that period.

“Small villages with small population such as Phuduhudu make it possible to screen all community members and follow ups during the project village to investigate whether the interventions are effective.”

Ms Makgato said government promoted preventative progrmammes of oral health in areas of School Oral Health, Early Childhood and under-fives’, Outreach to Service Centres and the project villages.

She said Botswana had long joined the international community in 1993 to commemorate the annual oral health day observed on September 12 locally.

The activities for the oral health day, she said, were  significant on the World Health Organisation (WHO) and were coordinated by the International Dental Federation based in Switzerland.

Giving objectives of the day, an official from Letsholathebe hospital, Mr Mbangu Kashweeka, said the project villages were selected randomly across the country to sensitise the communities.

He said the sensitisation in Phuduhudu had started in April this year with workshops, testing, treatment and follow ups and would officially close in March 2017.

Mr Kashweeka therefore urged the Phuduhudu community to take advantage of the services provided near them.

The project villages, he said promoted partnerships with the community and ways to improve oral health care.

In his remarks, the Maun East Member of Parliament, Mr Konstantinos Markus said oral health care was crucial to prevent ailments such as cancer.

Mr Markus also requested that the Phuduhudu health post be upgraded to a clinic especially with martenity ward. ENDS