27 Feb 2023

Reports have indicated that 90 per cent of the world’s population will suffer from oral diseases in their lifetime, says Professor Joseph Mbaiwa.

Speaking at the commemoration of Oral Health Day in Kereng on Friday, Prof. Mbaiwa said many of the oral diseases could be avoided with increased government and society support and funding for prevention, early detection and treatment.

Oral diseases, he said, were a major health concern for many countries and that they negatively impacted people throughout their lives. 

Prof. Mbaiwa, who is the director of the Okavango Research Institute, praised the Ngami District Health Management Team (DHMT) for advancing healthy equity by bringing oral services closer to communities and promoting good oral health.

Held under the theme: “Be proud of your mouth” Prof. Mbaiwa said the team had developed activities and initiatives aimed at increasing awareness for oral health as well as the impact of oral diseases on general health, well-being and the economy.

The DHMT has developed a village roving torch aimed at raising awareness and rolling out oral health services to 22 villages far from services in the Ngami District.

Prof. Mbaiwa also said oral hygiene was linked to the whole body health.

He urged Kereng residents to take oral health messages seriously and to maintain general health and well-being.

He said the theme encouraged all to make the connection between oral health and general well-being irrespective of age.

A healthy mouth, he said, allowed one to speak freely, smile, smell, chew and swallow as well as conveying a range of emotions with confidence and without pain, discomfort and disease.

He also applauded the oral health team for their out-reach services, saying he was informed that they had screened over 1 400 people including school children in Kareng for oral diseases. 

He said the team had reached 97 per cent of the villagers through door-to-door campaign.

He appealed to men not to be left behind and encouraged them to take advantage of the oral health services that had been brought to their village.

A senior dental specialist at Letsholathebe Memorial Hospital, Dr Kelentse Mpho said the commemoration was aimed at empowering communities with the knowledge, tools and confidence to secure good oral health.

She said the roving torch project was initiated last year targeting areas far from services and that through the initiative, they wanted to extend quality oral health services to  communities.

She said during the outreach they sensitised and screened people, including school children in order to help reduce the burden of oral diseases.

Kereng councillor, Mr Petrus Tjetjoo thanked the DHMT for bringing services closer to people, saying the campaign would motivate residents to take care of their oral health.

He also said the commemoration gave them the opportunity to learn more about oral health related issues. 

“I wish other government departments can emulate what you are doing to reduce the distance travelled by residents to access services," he said. BOPA