Dominicans are being asked to take better care of their oral health.
The Ministry of Health is partnering with Colgate Palmolive in observing Oral Health Month in October.
Timothy, in his address to observe the months of activities says a new integrated approach must be adopted to manage oral diseases.
“Oral diseases are also classified as chronic non communicable and shares many common risk fasters. Significant improvements have been made in the reduction of tooth decay in the Dominica population, however given the close link between oral health diseases and NCD’s it becoming necessary to develop a new integrated approach to the prevention and management of these conditions,”, Timothy said.
He said it becomes even more important for focus collaboration and team work between dental medical nursing and other health professionals.
“I say this because the signs of high risk behaviors such as excessive consumption of sugary foods, harmful use of alcohols, smoking are clearly visible in the mouth,” he added.
Meantime Timothy says the challenge is therefore to recognize dental disease as an NDC and to rethink the approach to health service delivery, where the individual seeking dental services is seen as whole persons.
On September 19, the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H. E. Jakaya M. Kikwete, hosted a side event to the first UN Global Summit on Non-Communicable Diseases, entitled “Putting Teeth into Non-Communicable Diseases: Encouraging Priority Actions for Non-Communicable Diseases.” Co-hosts were the Government of Australia and Government of Sweden, with the support of the World Health Organization. President Kikwete introduced language about oral diseases into the political declaration issued from the UN High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases. The UN Heads of State convened this ‘Summit’ immediately before their regular sessions of the General Assembly. This is only the second time in their history that health was ever the subject of a ‘Summit;’ the first was in 2001 on HIV/AIDS. The side event was convened at NYU as it was in close proximity to the UN building and was devoted to educating the delegates on the relationship between oral diseases and the four major NCDs of the main meeting: heart disease, cancer, respiratory diseases and diabetes. In the end all 193 Member States adopted the declaration that also included mention of renal diseases and blindness. They charged WHO to establish targets and indicators and relate them to the common risk factors: sugar, sodium, trans- and saturated fats, tobacco and alcohol.
Links to a press release, slide show and an excellent video of the oral health event is available at http://www.miraclecorners.org/. It is the first item listed under News (Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete Calls for UN Summit on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) to Include Oral Disease at MCW-Supported Event). The video includes several interesting presentations describing the possible links between oral and systemic health, as well as supportive remarks by several heads of state. It should be a useful resource for those promoting further understanding of the relationship between and oral and systemic health, as well as potential cost savings in medical care attributable to the treatment of oral disease.
We should not believe anything timothy says cause last year he said that some doctors from the french country was coming to Dominica to assist with our health care but since then nothing is being said about this. Stop fooling the people your piece of _ _ _ _.
Well said, but the natural ways of using guava sticks, and charcoal is better.and least expensive
The dental officials are doing a very good job. Hats off to colgate for their efforts as well. But the toothpastes should be cheaper.
Dominicans should take more pride in how their teeth look. Just look at the teeth of some people who sell food to the public. Shouldn’t they get their teeth looked after before they get their food handlers permit?
The toothpaste doesn’t prevent cavities. It is the brushing that does the work. Floride is toxic.
True, then brush with brush and water only, how long will you be able to do that?
Timothy around na. See no evil hear no evil.
According to the WHO, 3 out of every 5 people worldwide are killed by one of the 4 main noncommunicable diseases: diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease and chronic lung disease. All of these diseases can be linked to dental health in some way or another.
Oral Health is an integral part of oral health. I applaud your efforts on this most important issue Mr. Minister.
Shouldn’t it be “Oral health is an integral part of general health?”
yes- type – Oral Health is an integral part of General Health- the mouth is the gateway to the body