Oral Health in the Gulf Area

Eliminating Dental Cavities

ME Newswire

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - - Sunday, March 31st 2013

Oral diseases are a neglected epidemic that affects almost every one, increasing in prevalence as people age. When tooth decay is untreated it continues to progress in size resulting in an infection or abscess and unbearable pain. Oral diseases cause pain, infection, disability and even death. The most common oral disease is tooth decay, which may begin soon after birth with the primary teeth and continue anew in permanent teeth.

At the 1st Arab World Conference on Public Health, hosted by Dubai Health Authority under the umbrella of World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) from 4th to 6th April 2013 in Dubai, high importance has been attached to this topic.

The Oral Health: reflections from the Arab World session, scheduled on April 5th from 16:00 to 17:30 in the Hall 3 of the Conference center, will provide an update of programs in the EMRO region with particular focus on Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

The Chairman Prof. Raman Bedi, Head of International Centre for Child Oral Health, Director of Global Child Dental Health Taskforce and Chair of the Oral Health Working Group of the WFPHA, underlined why many today believe we can eliminate dental cavities in children within our lifetime.   The commonest chronic disease in childhood can be eradicated but it will take a big effort from everyone to reach this goal – this conference will bring together the senior dental leaders in the Gulf to discuss how we can achieve such an ambitious target.

Eminent speakers such as Dr S. Al Bulushi (Oman), Dr M. Al Darwish (Qatar) and Dr M. Al Rafee and Dr M. Farhan (Saudi Arabia) will discuss over the various population based preventive measures being undertaken in the EMRO region to prevent the oral diseases epidemic.

The session will be followed by a meeting of the Oral Health Working Group of the WFPHA dealing mainly with Gulf States issues in oral health. Prominent stakeholders from the EMRO region as well Dr P. Vassallo, President of the CECDO, Chair of the CED working group on Oral Health, Co-Chair  of the EADPH and a member of the Platform for Better Oral Health in Europe, will be participating in this meeting.

Delegates can pre-register or register onsite - the registration fees include congress material, and access to all general sessions, exhibition areas, coffee breaks and lunches.

This conference will be organized by MCI Middle East on behalf of DHA. MCI is a globally integrated Association, Communication and Event Management Company. MCI’s mission is to help companies, governments and associations bring people together to create meaningful connections and win.

Connect via Facebook and Twitter for constant updates or visit the website on www.publichealthdubai.com

For more information, please refer to the conference program or contact the Oral Health Working Group of the WFPHA.

Contacts

Dr. Wasif M. Alam

Director of Public Health and Safety Department

Dubai Health Authority, Dubai

malam@dha.gov.ae

 00971-4-2194077