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Sunday Life Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Dentist Association of Zimbabwe (Zida) is embarking on oral health campaigns throughout the country encouraging people to commit to healthy lifestyles.
In an interview, the president of the association, Dr Lovemore Mahachi, said his association would come up with initiatives aimed at improving oral health disease prevention.
“We develop continuing education programmes, awareness campaigns, health policy initiatives and congresses, as well as build capacity, improve access to care and share best practice to help in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases.
“We recognise the impact of oral diseases which affect 3,9 billion people worldwide and its effect on general health and quality of life, and we are committed to ensuring they are integrated into chronic disease prevention programmes to reduce their human, economic and social burden,” said Dr Mahachi.
Speaking on the theme of the recently held World Oral Heath Day he said the mouth is at the centre of dental care.
“The theme this year was: ‘It all starts here. Healthy mouth. Healthy body.’ The mouth is the window into human health and preventive measures to prevent oral disease and also reduce chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Treatment decisions are a matter between a patient and the dentist/doctor and must not be influenced by a medical aid society. The patient has the right to choose his or her own dentist.”
Dr Mahachi noted that dentistry was still growing and hence the need for quality service.
Dr Mahachi proposed various options to be used in the promotion of oral health and preventative measures.
“One way to reduce sugar consumption is for the Government to introduce a sugar tax and use the money to support schools dental programmes and pay for oral cancer treatment.
“Preventing dental disease through brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste costs less than 50 cents per person per month. Yet treating tooth decay will cost much more than this,” he added.
Bongani Ndlovu