By Philip Yatai

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), ‘Emerge 360 Africa’, on Saturday inaugurated an oral hygiene sensitisation campaign in rural communities of Kaduna State.

The Executive Director of the organisation, Mr Ezra Danjuma, said at the event in Sabon Gero community, Chikun Local Government Area of the state that the campaign was aimed at controlling preventable oral health diseases among rural dwellers.

Danjuma said that the campaign was designed to address health problems associated with poor oral hygiene.

He said that rural dwellers would also be provided with free consultant services for people with oral diseases.

“We will provide free tooth scaling and polishing for 50 people, extraction and replacement of decayed teeth and distribute free toothpaste and toothbrushes to beneficiaries,’’ he  said.

The director said that the campaign, in partnership with a group of volunteer dentists, was organised in line with SDGs 3 – good health and wellbeing by ensuring healthy life and promoting wellbeing for all ages.

He explained that the campaign was designed to implement community-oriented oral health promotion, targeting health practices with a view to controlling preventable oral diseases among rural dwellers.

He described dental and oral health as “essential parts of overall health and wellbeing of the people’’.

He added that poor oral hygiene could lead to dental cavities and gum disease, which had been linked to heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

Danjuma said that insufficient information on oral health had led to the use of wrong, and sometimes, dangerous oral health remedies, thereby, exposing people to complicated oral and gum diseases.

He pointed out that the prevalence of oral diseases was associated with poor dietary knowledge, consumption of sugary substance, Kolanut, coffee and smoking cigarettes among others.

“There is also the problem of low level of oral hygiene among pregnant women which increases the risk for developing oral problems.

“The campaign will provide the rural dwellers with all information about oral health and good oral hygiene practices to improve their health wellbeing.’’ (NAN)