Association Seeks New Oral Health Policy

The National President of
the Association of Dental Technologists of Nigeria, Mr. Ken Okeke, has called for a more comprehensive National Policy on Oral Health in the country.
Okeke who made the call in an interview at the 26th National Conference/Annual General meeting in Umuahia on Friday said the existing policy, which was introduced in November 2012, was “skewed” in favour of one arm of dentistry, against other arms of the profession.
“There has never been a comprehensive oral health policy in Nigeria until November 2012 that the policy was launched.`But when you look at that document, it is skewed in favour of one arm against other professions in dentistry,’’ Okeke said.
He noted that dentistry is a generic name, covering dental surgery, dental technology and dental therapy, adding that the arms were distinct but inter-related.
According to him, the policy favoured dental surgeons, pointing out that the imbalance did not allow for the growth of the other arms.
“If you get to the ministry, dentistry department is headed by a dental surgeon without consideration for the other arms of dentistry,” he said.
Okeke noted that until the policy was reviewed, the nation would find it difficult to achieve the desired objective in oral dental health.
He expressed delight over the introduction of a degree programme in Dental Technology by the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), saying that it would help to popularise the course in the country.
He called on other Universities of Technology to borrow a leaf from FUTO, saying that the measure would help to meet the admission requirement in Dental Technology in the country.
The Chairman of the association in Abia, Mr Udoeyo Nseabasi, also said that state governments were not giving equal recognition to the association like its counterparts.
He appealed to the Abia government to assist the association with a vehicle to alleviate the problem of mobility often faced by the members during national conferences.