Dentists Seek Oral Health Care Policy
Worried by the low level of oral healthcare awareness, Nigerian Dentists set up Foundation to harness support and development of prctice.
Speaking on the purpose of the foundation, President, Dr. Bidemi Dawodu explained that the current high prevalence of oral diseases such as dental caries and periodontal disease have become a major source of concern to professionals in the sector.
It would be recalled that Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole recently raised alerted that the burden of dental disease has risen to an epidemic proportion in the country.
Dawodu noted that the Dental Support Foundation (DSF) seeks to encourage government to implement the Nigerian Oral Health Care Policy which aims at ensuring the creation of at least one dental care center in each local government with a view to improving the oral health of Nigerians.
The President also said that the support foundation which was incorporated three years ago, will equally strive to encourage dental practitioners undertake measures to improve public oral health and dental education; maintain the dignity of the dental profession; protect the rights/interests of young dentists; and create job opportunity for young dentists.
Other objectives include reducing the burden of equipment acquisition to the barest minimum and fostering of friendship, co-operation and co- existence among members of the profession.
“The starting point is to create the awareness among the people about dental health care. It is so bad today that people don’t go the dentist until there have serious pains in their mount. But what is crucial is the implementation of the oral health policy passed by the National Assembly a long time ago,” he said.
Dawodu emphasised that the implementation of the policy will galvanise the oral health care and create employment for dentists, because the cardinal point is the setting up of dental clinic in all the Local Government Areas in the country.
Members of the board include Dr. Ademola Ademuson, Dental Surgeon Dr. Akanbi Oluwarotimi Olojede, a consultant oral and maxillofacial surgeon with the Lagos State Health Commission and Dr. Ishaku Danfillo, Consultant General, Dental Practice (Family Dentistry) with Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos.
Others include Dr. Tola Owoturo, a Family Dentistry specialist with core interest in Endodontics and Aesthetics; Dr. Dahiru Labo, Dr. Grace Mang and Dr. Bola Awokoya.