Oral healthcare gets to Plateau communities

The Nigeria Dental Association with sponsorship from the Federation Dentile International (FDI), has organised a two- day free oral health care services to two poor communities in Plateau State.

National Secretary of the Nigerian Dental Association, Dr. Ukachi Nnawurhe said, the gesture became imperative having discovered that the two communities lack primary health care hospitals, thereby suffering deprivation in their oral health.

Nnawurhe said with the programme tagged: ‘Talk to a dentist’, the FDI in partnership with Unilever (Pepsodent brand), aimed to ensure that oral health gets to the less privileged in the rural communities.

The two communities identified as fwolkwi and Gura-Suga in Jos South, were elated as this is the second time they are benefiting from the same association, our correspondent reports.

Speaking to newsmen during the gesture on Wednesday, Nnawurhe said the FDI is passionate about communities which suffer deprivation in their oral health.

He said the aim of the FDI is to ensure that everyone, especially in the grassroots have access to affordable oral health care.

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“FDI wants to ensure that every country in the world meets its sustainable development goal, which stipulates that oral health care gets to the underserved by the year 2030.

“The two communities offer us an ideal case of deprivation meaning there is no presence of oral health care or even primary health care hospitals”, Nnawurhe said.

On his part, the State Chairman, Nigerian Dental Association, Plateau State, Dr. Basil Ojukwu said the gesture is a continuation of the March 20th World Oral Health Day, following a successful outreach done in the community.

“This is a second visit to attend to their oral needs. The community leader had told us that our visits makes it the first time oral care givers are coming to their aid”, Ojukwu said.

Also, the immediate past Chairman of the Association, Dr. Olaniyi Taiwo, said the gesture is to give back to the society.

Taiwo said coming to the community has helped them to uncover so many oral needs that are untreated, adding that this is evident that there is no primary health center in the two villages.

The Community leader, Da Joseph Dung, however, while commending the organisers, prayed that the goodwill done to them will never go unrewarded.