(1) As a gift from the heart and a “Sweet Treat,” free preventive prophylaxes will be offered in the Port Hope and Area as Part of ‘Gift From the Heart’ Event.(2) Three local dental hygienists will be joining colleagues across Canada in the sixth-annual Gift From the Heart Day on Saturday, February 8. The event sees dental hygienists offer their skills free-of-charge to help those who cannot afford dental treatment. By doing this, dental hygienists want to boost access to dental care and highlight the link between oral health and overall health. Kudos to you! “An Idea is formed from our Head and comes from the HEART and is Gifted through our Hands. We are Dental Hygienists and TOGETHER we can make a difference ... One Smile at a Time!”(2)
Also in Africa, Morocco is one of the 9 countries in WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region to have adopted a national plan to fast-track development on maternal and child health over the past year.(6) The Moroccan plan, which runs up to the 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDG) deadline, was launched by the Moroccan Minister of Health, His Excellency Dr. El Houssaine Louardi, and Dr. Ala Alwan, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, on 13 November 2013 in Rabat. Morocco has already made considerable headway in reducing deaths among mothers and children. The country’s maternal mortality ratio fell by 67% between 1990 and 2010 and the under-five mortality rate dropped by 60% between 1990 and 2011.(6) The new plan aims to bring about even faster progress. It sets the country on course to achieve reductions in under-five and maternal mortality of 70% and 82%, respectively, from the 1990 levels by 2015. Read more in the WHO report.(6)
In Pakistan, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has come up with a plan to attack the problem of polio, which is still a huge threat. ‘Sehat Ka Insaf’ program to be launched in Peshawar this month is the creation of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.(7) Under the program, the health department will also hold free medical camps where vouchers for free checkups and free medicines will be provided to people. Each child will receive vitamin A drops. Each family will receive hygiene kit, including soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, towel, water container, etc. The campaign will be run by over 12,500 volunteers. ‘Sehat Ka Insaf’ is a complete health package for KP children, and will cover other diseases as well as polio.(7)
And lastly, the International Academy of Oral Oncology (IAOC) brings together clinicians and scientists working in the field of oral oncology. The official journal is Head and Neck, and they have various meeting throughout the world, some in the USA. Visit the website for more information.(8)
References
1. http://www.who.int/about/who_reform/change_at_who/issue4/information-sharing/en/index.html#.UvAgIPldWSp.
2. http://www.giftfromtheheart.ca/.
3. http://www.afro.who.int/en/ethiopia/press-materials/item/6221-ethiopia-ratifies-who-framework-convention-on-tobacco-control.html.
4. Ministry of Health and Social Services [MOHSS] 2012.
5. ASSESSMENT OF OVER-THECOUNTER HIV RAPID TEST KITS IN NAMIBIA. http://www.aidstar-one.com/sites/default/files/AIDSTAR-One_Report_Namibia_OTC_Rapid_Test_Kits.pdf.
6. http://www.who.int/features/2014/morocco-maternal-health/en/.
7. http://www.dawn.com/news/1084354/sehat-ka-insaf-a-complete-health-package-for-kp-children.
8. http://iaoo.pro/en/.
Maria Perno Goldie, RDH, MS
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