Oral Health Education (OHE)
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The Need The recent influx of cheap, high sugar drinks and sweets threatens to have a devastating effect on child oral health in the next 10 years unless we can respond. Education is the key to making a lasting difference to the oral health of Mwanza region.
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What have we achieved so far?
Over the past two years, we have regularly spent time in the local communities carrying out free oral health screening in schools and orphanages. To date, well over 2,000 people have received this free service. Each person screened receives an oral health report outlining any dental problems that need addressing and giving basic oral health advice. They are then invited to attend the clinic to either discuss their individual case further or to receive treatment. In certain cases Hope Dental Centre will provide this treatment at subsidised rates or even for free.
What's next?
As well as continuing the schools and orphanage service, we plan to start work on a pilot Oral Health Education programme for schools during 2008. We are currently working with the RDO to identify suitable partners and a coherent strategy to deliver this programme effectively.
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We anticipate that volunteers will be used to support the delivery of training to the teachers and health care workers who will eventually deliver the programme to local people. We are delighted that a mobile dental van from the UK has been donated by Rocky Lane Dental Practice in Manchester to support this.
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