Worldental Daily Poznań 2016, 8 September

Thursday, 8 September 2016 Czwartek, 8 września 2016 news aktualności 4 www.fdiworldental.org O ral health in Africa has just received a second boost with the August 2016 launch of the World Health Organization’s African region strategy, based on four clear objectives.This follows its publication Promoting Oral Health in Africa, launched earlier this year, which proposes proven, affordable and feasible interventions to ad- dress daily oral health needs in the African region. The first boost to oral health came in 2013, when the FDI launched its own Strategy for Africa, founded on its special area of competence train- ing and capacity building within its unique network of Africa-based na- tional dental associations (NDAs). In this way, it helps them acquire and develop leadership and manage- ment skills, establishing and reinforc- ing their credibility and supporting their effective peer-to-peer ex- change of information. This, in turn, makes them stronger oral health ad- vocates in their home countries. Thus far, the FDI has held two training sessions, the first in 2015. This Level 1 training focused on in- ternal leadership to secure the long- term viability and credibility of the NDAs. A four-day Level 2 Leadership Training Workshop took place in Ge- neva in Switzerland in February. Level 2 training concentrates on communication, advocacy and fund- raising to ensure NDAs acquire key skills to make them effective oral health advocates nationally and re- gionally. WHO STRATEGY At the workshop, Dr Benoît Va- renne, Regional Adviser on Oral Health in the Non-Communicable Diseases Cluster at the WHO Re- gional Office for Africa, highlighted how NDAs could become involved in WHO activities and engage with their local ministers of health and chief dental officers. In this way, they can ensure their voice is heard when lo- cal policies are being formulated. He also addressed what they can do to influence the process and aid in pol- icy implementation. The current new WHO strategy is based on four objectives. These are: (a) to strengthen national advocacy, leadership, multisectoral action and partnerships for integrated preven- tion and control of oral disease; (b) to reduce common risk factors of oral disease and non-communicable dis- eases, promote oral and general health and ensure regular and gen- eral use of appropriate fluorides; (c) to strengthen health system capacity for integrated prevention and con- trol of oral disease; and (d) to im- prove integrated surveillance of oral disease, monitoring and evaluation of programmes and operational re- search. The WHO strategy was launched at the Regional Committee for Africa meeting held from 19 to 23 August in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. Both the FDI and WHO strongly encouraged Afri- can NDA leaders to view the meeting as an opportunity to brief their na- tional delegation on the current na- tional oral disease burden, help pre- pare a national statement, including challenges and, if possible, join the delegation. Initial reports suggest that a number of NDAs heeded the call. The FDI joined forces with mem- ber NDA the Ethiopian Dental Profes- sionals Association to give a joint statement in support of the oral health strategy and call upon WHO partners and member states to take action for its effective implementa- tion, including resource mobilisa- tion. FDI AFRICAN REGIONAL DENTAL CONGRESS Meanwhile, in a boost to its own ambitions in the African region, the FDI and its member dental associa- tion in Morocco, L’Association Maro- caine de Prévention Bucco-Dentaire, will be organising the first FDI African Regional Dental Congress, to be held in Marrakesh from 27 to 29 April 2017. The scientific programme will include a dedicated FDI session. Mo- rocco is particularly well located to host attendees from neighbouring countries, as well as countries in sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and southern Europe. WHO will no doubt be on the invitation list. Strategies to advance oral health in Africa StrategiesłużącepoprawiestanuzdrowiajamyustnejwAfryce #ciosp60years The largest dental event in Latin America! Organizer: International Media: Support: Information: Exhibit Inquiry: Transforming the History of Dentistry Follow us on: /apcdcentral @apcdcentral /apcdcentral AD

Worldental Daily Poznań 2016, 8 September

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