adminFairness Moyana in Dete
THE government is set to roll out an oral health services survey in a bid to address complications emanating from oral diseases.
The survey is supposed to be carried out every 10 years in line with the World Health Organisation guidelines, but the last survey was done in 1995 due to funding challenges.
Speaking during National Oral Health day commemorations held at Ndangababi primary school in Dete on Thursday, the Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Cde Aldrin Musiiwa, said his Ministry was in the process of rolling out an oral health survey which would culminate in the crafting of an oral health policy.
“Oral health is a significant component of primary health care and as such it deserves attention as any other aspect of health. We are therefore prioritising school children in our oral health campaigns because interventions at this level give the best results. An oral health services and policy will be implemented soon. These two projects are very important and we will do everything we can to have them realised,” said Musiiwa.
He said his Ministry was also implementing a national school oral health programme targeting 12-year-olds who have been singled out as a major index group for oral health services and status.
He said lack of equipment and manpower were hampering efforts to provide dental services.
There are proposals for dental posts to be created at provincial and district hospital for dentists who would have completed their one year internship at Harare Dental centre, he added.“Equipment is still a major problem as dental equipment is specialized, expensive and needs proper maintenance. We need to implement a policy of appropriate technology if we are to continue providing the dental services our communities need. Theses dentists may be given one year posts before they can be released to work at service centres of their choice,” said Cde Musiiwa.
Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the commemorations, the National Dental Services director, Dr Francis Sibanda, said access to funding was a major challenge in promoting oral health hygiene and re-equipping dental centres.
“We haven’t carried out a survey as per WHO requirement due to funding shortcoming. This survey which was last done 20 years ago is long overdue and is affecting our implementation of strategies as we are not properly aware of the state of the people’s teeth. We are, however, running around to source for funds and as the minister has highlighted we should be carrying out a survey soon which will then help us through policy in coming up with interventions and ways to promote oral hygiene,” he said.
Online Reporter