People urged to care more about their oral health |09 February 2012
This message was stressed at an activity held yesterday at the Sheik Khalifa Diagnostic
This year’s theme is ‘A healthy mouth starts with you’ and it emphasises the need for people to take good care of their mouth and teeth. Dental caries, periodontal diseases and oral cancer are major oral health problems affecting people worldwide and Seychelles is no exception.
A number of guests, including the Minister for Health, Dr Erna Athanasius, and her principal secretary, Dr Bernard Valentin, were present to listen to a number of interesting presentations about oral health problems affecting the population and how the oral health directorate is managing these issues.
The presentations were entitled ‘Oral cancer in Seychelles’ by maxillo facial surgeon, Dr Rolando Dedieu, ‘Where are we going?’ by dentist Jost Von Schoenebeck, ‘Dental caries’ by dental therapist Vanessa Volcère, and ‘The impact of tooth loss on the dental laboratory’ by laboratory technician Stephen Chang-Tak-Hue.
Addressing the guests, Dr Valentin hailed the 17 dentists and 29 therapists in Seychelles who, “with relentless vigour”, have undertaken their “exceptional work”.
“They are always on the move, working against tooth decay, gum disease and against the more sinister pathologies of the oral cavity,” he said.
“We are commemorating oral health day though, at a time where the mouths of some of our children are still drowning beneath an ocean of dangerous, fizzy drinks. One decayed or missing tooth is one too many. A healthy mouth starts with me, with you, with each and every one of us. If you want to change the world, they say, train a child and show him/her the way.”
Dr Valentin added that the Ministry of Health leads lots of prevention activities and is almost in every school, targeting almost every child and is no doubt getting good results but it can and must do even better everywhere.
There were also two donations during the event, where Shanmugam Pillay of the Kannus Group gave the Ministry of Health a 32-inch LCD television and a DVD player for oral health promotion. The equipment will be used in the waiting area to display information on dental care and other related information.
A representative of the Ministry of Health accepting the donations from Kannus (left) and the Dobi Laundry company
The health ministry also received a cheque from the Dobi Laundry company.
Other activities to be held to commemorate oral health day include an exhibition at the Orion Mall showcasing different oral health problems and their prevention and treatment.
This will be held today and on Saturday February 25 from 9am to 2pm. Dental services staff will be present to answer any queries.
Another event will be an oral screening which will take place on Saturday February 18 at the Yellow Roof building (dental) from 8am to 2pm. The activity will be a chance for the general public to come and have a mouth check-up or if in doubt to talk to dentists or dental specialists who will be there.