Brunei's Local News - Brudirect.com

Bandar Seri Begawan - “I am sad to say that we still have not achieved the oral health goals set by the WHO for both children and adults. This is shown by the poor oral health status of a representative sample of the Civil Services Employees as evidence from the data obtained from the ongoing Integrated Health Screening (Oral Health)."

This was stated by the Minister of Health, Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Suyoi, in his speech as the guest of honour during the launching ceremony of PEARL 2012 Oral Health Agenda organised by the Department of Dental Services, Ministry of Health and held at the Manggis Mall recently.

Pehin Haji Suyoi said the oral disease is a huge disease as it translated into high demands for curative and rehabilitative services from the population, which severely constrained our valuable and limited healthcare resources.

He strongly believed that one of the main reasons for this is that we have been focusing on tackling

the consequences of these oral diseases instead of the cause of these problems.

During the opening ceremony of the 1st World Dental Federation & Ministry of Health Brunei (FDI/MoH) International Dental Convention, Pehin Haji Suyoi emphasised the importance of fairness, flexibility and parity for the people of Brunei and increases the accessibility and availability of oral healthcare to all Bruneians with a priority on education and prevention.

The Department of Dental Services' Oral Health Agenda 2008-2012 or PEARL 2012 is hence the response to the need to develop a nationwide oral health promotion strategy as a key action to prevent oral disease and promote health.

Hajah Norsiah binti Haji Johari, Chief Executive Officer of Dental Services Department said the agenda is aimed at helping all residents to retain as many of their teeth as possible throughout their lives, have good oral health as part of their general good health, have access to appropriate, affordable, safe and sustainable quality oral health services and information.

Among others, Hajah Norsiah also revealed the department's future plans to promote oral health in Brunei in term of the promotion and prevention as well as the development of oral healthcare infrastructure and coverage at schools.

The ceremony also saw a certificate presentation to some 35 community health nurses conducted by the guest of honour and a lecture entitled 'Embedded Health Promotion' presented by an invited speaker Professor Anthony Blinkhorn. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin