Oral Health Survey To Cover 10 Lakh Respondents

EHM News Bureau

To make a significant and quantifiable difference to the overall health of the nation and to create awareness about the preventive measures for dental care in India, the Indian Dental Association, (IDA) for the first time in dental history, with support from Anchor Oral Care and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, launched the first-of-its-kind initiative with the - Anchor All India Oral Health Survey, recently in Mumbai. This survey, which embarks on a three-year long Anchor Wellness Initiative from December 2006 to 2009 was officially announced by the Governor of Maharashtra, S M Krishna along with Damjibhai Lalji Shah, Chairman, Anchor Health & Beauty Pvt Ltd and Dr Ashok Dhoble, Hon Secretary General, IDA.

In this age of globalisation and technological advance-ment, the focus has shifted from simply treating a disease to the promotion of healthcare and quality of life. It has been seen that in industrialised countries, preventive programmes have been highly successful, oral health services are organised and care is available to most, if not all. Therefore, a preventive approach including health education and promotion is of utmost importance. Sadly, this trend is yet to catch up in India. “So, IDA has taken upon the initiative to create awareness about dental healthcare and to inculcate healthy habits amongst Indians," said Dr Dhoble.

The Survey will be conducted in over 40 cities, 500 villages, 5,000 schools and 120 Government, public and private offices in the form of dental check-up camps over a period of 45 days to gauge the severity of problems in dental health. Through these camps, the IDA is aiming to reach a record number of 10 lakh respondents and aims to enter into the Guinness Book of World Records, with this unmatched achievement. Said Dr Deepak Muchhala, Treasurer, IDA, while expressing his views on this programme, "Wellness awareness programme will cover a cross section of the society and not only one part of the population. In two months, we will be covering the entire Indian population with a plan to simultaneously cover all 27 states.”

Each dentist will record the examinations by means of a form, which will later be scanned, and the data collated will be published in the form of a directory. The directory will also have the database of all the IDA dentists, pharmaceutical companies and equipment suppliers. This directory will be a for anyone who is associated with the dental fraternity. Commenting on the association with IDA, Damjibhai Lalji Shah, said, "Anchor Oral Care, with support from the IDA and Ministry of Health, aspires to ensure good dental health for every Indian. The 'All India Oral Health Survey' is our first step towards achieving this significant objective. We, along with the support and co-operation of the dental fraternity and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare would like to strive for the success of this initiative."