Maria David
THE Oshana Region has embarked on an oral health awareness campaign, with dentists spreading the word about the importance of good dental hygiene.
The week-long campaign features various activities, including informative outreach programs, free dental screenings, and discussions on oral health.
Oshakati Intermediate Hospital dentist Dr. Johanna Pohamba said the campaign started on Monday and will conclude on Friday.
Pohamba explained that oral health is important because the mouth is linked to the rest of the body. Some diseases start in the mouth and can affect the body.
“The oral cavity is one of the most important parts of the body, as everything goes through the mouth, and we want to engage people about oral health,” she said.
She added that it is also important for people to know that they need to clean their teeth twice a month, due to the bacteria in the mouth, as the toothbrush alone cannot do all the work.
Further, Pohamba indicated that on Monday alone, they saw about 200 people, including inpatients and outpatients, at Oshakati and surrounding clinics, where they provided oral health education.
She said that on Thursday, the campaign will head to Ondangwa, with the setup at the Ondangwa Town Council, and will conclude at Eluwa Special School and Omege School on Friday.
Pohamba said that despite the campaign coming on short notice, they have managed to get sponsorship from local businesspeople and clinics to ensure the successful hosting of the campaign.
