By Chijioke Kingsley
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – The Plateau State Chairman of the Nigerian Dental Association, Dr. Basil Ojukwu has said the aim of the association in 2024 is to eliminate oral infected diseases.
The State Chairman said for children to have proper dental development, mothers are encouraged to engage in exclusive breastfeeding.
Ojukwu stated this on Wednesday in Jos during an oral health awareness road walk to herald the World Oral Health Day celebration which comes up every March 20th, 2024.
With the theme: “Healthy Mouth is a Healthy Body”, Ojukwu said the celebration is also targeted at empowering the public with the knowledge and tools of confidence to secure good oral health.
According to him: “The fact that the mouth is the gateway to the body means that if the mouth is not healthy, it affects the entire body including your choice of diet.
“Most oral health conditions are largely preventable and can be treated in their early stages without the associated morbidities.
“It is with great pleasure that I join the global community to commemorate Oral Health Day today.
“The day is significant as it conveys the message of taking care of our teeth. Oral diseases are largely preventable but a major health burden for many people are those suffering from pain, discomfort, disfigurement, and even death.”
“This celebration is an opportunity to raise health awareness and to inform the public about the importance of our oral health and the fact that most oral health conditions are largely preventable and can be treated in their early stages without the associated morbidities”, he said.
Ojukwu continued: “This is a long week event which started on Monday with the sensitization of the people on how to take care of their oral health.
“We visited some radio stations to sensitize the populace on oral diseases and its prevention. Today we embarked on oral health road walk campaign to enlighten the public about the day and to advise them on where to visit if they develop oral disease condition.
“We will be having another campaign at a moto park tomorrow and on Friday we shall be visiting a school to create more oral health awareness”, he said.
He advised the public to always brush their mouths twice a day.
He lauded Unilever, manufacturers of Pepsodent and Close-up who are the chief sponsors of the program.
“It is also worthy to mention other professional bodies like the Dental professionals, the University of Jos Dental Students Association, the Dental Therapist Association, the Dental Health Technician Association, the Dental Nurses Association and other Doctors of both private and public health Sectors who partnered with us”.
Also speaking, a dental technician, Mrs. Grace Ayuba, said she enjoined the awareness activities because people don’t know much about Dental Health.
She said if people avail themselves for a dental check-up, they will be surprised.
A Dental Therapist Mrs. Dayohom Micah who also spoke with our correspondent said taking good care of the teeth means taking good care of the body.
On her part, Miss Laurtta Ifeaoma Chukwu, a Dental Technologist said not taking good care of one’s dental health can pose danger to the general body.
The President of the University of Jos Dental Students Association, Mr. Agbaseni Michael Amankye, who was also at the walk, said a greater part of the Nigerian population do not care about their oral health.
Amankye said he always urge students to participate in dental awareness programs because they can’t learn everything in class.
