Boost For Brunei's Dental Healthcare
By P Marilyn

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Ministry of Health marked another milestone yesterday with the signing of a memorandum of understanding with King's College, London along with an agreement between the ministry and King's College Hospital Trust.

Signing the Moll on behalf of the Ministry of Health was Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health Dato Paduka Serbini Ali, while signing on behalf of King's College London was Dcan and Head of School, King's College London Dental Institute Professor Naim Wilson, OBE.

Meanwhile, signing the Agreement in Training and Education Programme on behalf of the Ministry of Health Brunei Darussalam was Director of Dental Services, Dr Haji Shamshir bin Haji Zainal Abidin, while signing on behalf of King's College, London was Professor Naim Wilson.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Minister of Health Pehin Dato Seri Setia Haji Suyoi. Also present was Deputy Minister of Health Pehin Dato Paduka Haji Hazair.

Yesterday's event was held at the Multi-Purpose Hall, Ministry of Health.

The signing ceremony marks the collaboration between the two parties in the aspect of training and education programme for dental officers and oral health care professionals.

The agreement yesterday was for a Dental Programme, which comprises a three-year Diploma course in Dental Therapy that will be jointly granted by the two signing parties. Through the programme, dental therapists will receive in-house training, while King's College academic staff will visit Brunei on a part-time basis to provide training throughout the duration of the course.

Dental therapists will be trained to care for both children and adults, with their main function being to assist dental services provided by existing dental care professionals in the country, especially in primary oral health care.

The Ministry of Health applauded the collaboration with King's College, known as one of the most prestigious dental schools in the world and renowned for conducting excellent courses in all aspects of oral health care.

"There is a shortage of dental care professionals, especially dental nurses and therapists in Brunei Darussalam to deal with the ever increasing workload," Dr Haji Shamshir said.

He added that the vision of the Ministry of Health was to train 100 dental therapists by 2015 to improve the oral health of the people and to augment dental services provided by the dental care professionals in the country.

"We also hope to make Brunei Darussalam a centre of academic excellence by training dental care professionals from this region in the future, when our local needs have been catered to," he concluded. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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