‘Disparity in delivery of oral health services among rural population’

November 30, 2022 28 Views No Comment

Morung Express news
Kohima | November 30

Dr Meribeni Odyuo, Joint Director Dental SPO, National Oral Health Programme (NOHP), Department of Health and Family Welfare today said that oral health has been neglected over the years, especially in rural areas. Awareness, among local populace and care providers was low leading to negligence of dental care. She observed.

She was speaking at one-day training for ASHA and PRI on importance of ‘oral health on overall health and awareness on ill effects of Tobacco COTPA 2003’ held at CMO conference hall Kohima on November 29.

‘We need to change the mindset of treating oral health as only tooth problem,’ Odyuo said while adding, dental issues is considered as one of the most widespread health issues that negatively affect oral health globally.

“The situation is alarming in India, due to lack of access to oral health care and preventive measures as overall in India, the ratio of dentists to population is 1:10,000,” she mentioned.

In the context of rural India, one dentist was serving a population of over 2,50,000 which suggests disparity in delivery of oral health services in rural population.

Therefore, a shift from treatment to prevention is required; and oral health promotion is a way to prevent dental diseases and is not a new concept, she said.

Encouraging ASHAs, Odyuo said their duties include primary medical care, control of diseases by information, education, sanitation and surveillance, antenatal, natal, and postnatal services to women, counselling on family planning, child immunization, breastfeeding practices, birth spacing, mobilize the community toward local health planning, and improve the participation in the existing health services, etc.

She added, the community workers are adequately trained on general health but must also have knowledge on the importance of good oral health.

Stressing on importance of promoting oral health, she encouraged to create awareness for proper brushing and mouth cleaning techniques and also on how to adopt a healthy lifestyle to prevent oral diseases.

The doctor asked them to go for regular dental checkups every 6 months and advice the mothers or caregivers to take their babies to the dentist with the first tooth or firs birthday.

Dr Arenla Walling, District Nodal Officer NTCP Kohima presented on ill effects of tobacco and COTPA 2003 in the second session. Dr Pfukrolo Koza, Junior Specialist, NHAK highlighted the importance of oral health and on overall health.

Source: https://morungexpress.com/disparity-in-delivery-of-oral-health-services-among-rural-population