Oral health policy on cards

Ropafadzo Ndangariro and Melissa Makoto
Government is working on an oral health policy that will cater for health institutions and the community, Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa has said. He said he had tasked officials from his ministry to consult to come up with an all-inclusive policy.

Dr Parirenyatwa was speaking during World Oral Health Day commemorations in Harare yesterday.
“It is important to have an oral health policy and we are making sure that our officials are making consultations so that we have a policy that does not only cater for health institutions, but also the community,” he said.
“It is an ongoing exercise, but certainly something that we cannot stop now.”

Dr Parirenyatwa urged teachers and parents to get information on proper care for teeth from the Oral Health Department for dissemination to children for them to avoid developing cancer, non communicable diseases in the mouth, gum bleeding and bad breath, which could lead to death.

“Failure to get your mouth checked regularly could lead to you developing cancer or other non communicable diseases in the mouth to an extent where you could lose your life,” he said
“To the teachers and parents, get information from the Oral Health Department on taking care of your teeth and mouth.”
Dr Parirenyatwa said regular education on proper care for teeth was vital in preventing teeth extraction.

“In Zimbabwe, at each school screening a significant portion of the pupils had tooth decay (more than 30 percent) and at every community outreach more than 60 percent of the patients who turn up needed to have their tooth extracted,” said Dr Parirenyatwa.