A Medical Practitioner,Dr Ndah Jibrin Agboni of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Gwagwalada has advocated the inclusion of oral health care program into the Primary Health Care(PHC) programs of the goverrment.
The Specialist made this suggestion during one day free rural medical outreach specialised in dental intervention in partnership with “Oral Health Advocacy Intiiative” and Iyale elites.
He said the disturbing signals along with Goverrment neglect of the people particularly in the rural areas,as well as decadence in oral conditions encourage the one day exercise in the area.
” Dental care is One special area of health that has not been given attention by both the government and public health community.That is why ‘Oral Health Care’ was excluded from Primary Health Care services”.
“Having seen that the number of people dying on the daily basis as a result of poor oral health and the pain our people were going through, I decided to plead with my boss Dr Veror to allow me to render the Free Dental intervention outreach program in order for our people to benefit”
According to Dr Jibrin, Goverrment at all levels, Philantrophists, Political office holders require more attention to oral health programs for the downtrodden to address the growing cases of Dental problems among the populace.
He said the program originally meant for Iyale and Etutekpe Communities is expected to go round,while commending the efforts of the Chief Medical Director,Kogi State Hospital Management Board,Dr Zakari Alhaji Usman for his support and intervention .
In his words ” The situation is really worse in the rural areas where few general hospitals exist but there are no dental section to cater for Dental health needs of the rural dwellers. Those dentists who are qualified and lincenced to practice, all base in the city for greener pastures with attendant high negative health indicators ( mortality and morbidly rates) in Dental health Care delivery in the rural areas”.
The Principal Dental prothetist said the NGO has metamorphosed to Community Based Organsition (CBO),that will afford corporate organsition, individuals, Goverrment, Political office holders and Philantrophists partner to curb the incidences of oral health care in our Communities as well as render humanitarian services.
The Medical practitioner said during the one day program in Iyale community about 139 patients was registered while 81 were seen by offering full treatment,while others were observed and placed on medications.
“For record purpose, the following is the statistic of our dental section:
A total of 139 pts were registered but 81 pts seen.
55 units of denture replaced for 17 pts. 3 crowns were made for three pts. 41 scaling and polishing for 41 pts ( Gross scaling)
143 teeth extracted for 67 pts. 21 GIC fillings for 11 pts.Some pts were also seen without any invasive procedures on them. We only placed them on medications”
He assured the adjoining Communities particularly Etutekpe of the program attention in the course of time,after attending to over 150 patients in Iyale community
“The program was planned for two days for Iyale and Etutekpe as over 150 pts were seen”
The Dental practitioner said the NGO along with his Commnity Based Organsition (CBO)NAKOWA, will partner to bring a lasting solutions to the growing threat or oral care and medication,saying all hands must be on deck by the critical stakeholders to reduce the incidence of oral Dental problems.
“There is plans to bridge the inaccessibility of dental care among the rural dwellers.We’re looking up to the government, NGO, philanthropists, corporate organizations for partnership in order to render this humanitarian services to our people” He said