The Manager of Health Promotion and Non-Communicable Diseases at the Public Health Department Dr Alanoud bint Mohammed Al Thani and the Oral Health Unit Supervisor at the Supreme Council of Health Dr Abdulla Asad Al Emadi addressing a press conference at the SCH yesterday.Salim Matramkot
By Fazeena Saleem
DOHA: The Supreme Council of Health (SCH) will join GCC states in marking the Oral Health Week 2013. The activities will be held between March 25 and 31.
GCC Oral Health Week 2013 aims to develop a unified method to combat oral diseases and tooth decay among the member countries. It will also aim to unify activities and awareness programmes that may help in promoting oral and dental health in GCC countries.
Statistics from the GCC epidemiological studies suggest that the prevalence of dental cavities ranges between 80 and 90 percent among children. The week-long activities will be held under the theme ‘Dental Health and Beauty’ by the Supreme Council of Health (SCH), to raise awareness about oral health and dental hygiene among public, especially the schoolchildren. The awareness programmes will be held in collaboration with the Supreme Eduction Council, Primary Health Care Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, College of the North Atlantic-Qatar (CNA-Q) and Ahmed bin Mohammed Military College.
In celebration of the week, students of the Dental Assistant programme at CNA-Q will organise a series of table clinics with a variety of topics related to dental health.
“Since launching the GCC Oral Health week in Qatar, we have noticed an increase in the awareness of the people about their dental and oral health, especially among the children, who really need this kind of education at an early age,” said Dr Alanoud bint Mohammed Al Thani, Manager, Health Promotion and Non-Communicable Diseases, Public Health Department speaking at a press conference held at the SCH yesterday. She explained that awareness about oral health has increased among people in Qatar since the launch of the GCC Oral Health Week in 2008.
Commenting on the National Oral Health strategy which is being developed by the SCH, Dr Abdulla Asad Al Emadi, Oral Health Unit Supervisor at the SCH said it is now reviewed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and awaiting for approval by the higher authorities.
The first National Oral Health Survey conducted in 2011 would be released after approval from the WHO within the next three months, according to officials. The survey was conducted among 4,500 students aged six, 12 and 15 years old.The Peninsula
