Brunei's Local News - Brudirect.com

Bandar Seri Begawan - Deputy Minister of Health, Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Paduka Awang Haji Hazair bin Haji Abdullah called for the formation of a Brunei Dental Association to look after the interests and welfare of our oral health professionals and clients.

"With the formation of a National Dental Association, it will enable us to join and to gain full membership in many Dental Organizations in the world such as the International Dental Federation, the Asia Pacific Dental Congress and a few others.

"What better way can we contribute to Dentistry regionally and globally other than by becoming a full member in these organizations?" he told the closing ceremony for the 2nd FDI/Ministry of Health Brunei Darussalam International Dental Convention yesterday.

"Reflecting the time period since I closed the 1st FDI/MOH Brunei International Dental Convention in

January 2007, we have witnessed a moving forward towards the betterment in the level of the dental services in Brunei Darussalam.

"The most significant of all is the launching of the 1st Oral Health Plan also known as PEARL 2008-2012. This is the Oral Health Plan that would dictate how Oral Health Services will be delivered over the next five years and more. The emphasis is on oral health promotion and prevention of oral diseases.

"It means moving away from the traditional manner of treating people only when they-have already developed oral health problems to one that is preventively focused and involving fewer interventions."

The Deputy Minister of Health said the young and old in Brunei Darussalam need to be empowered to be responsible towards their own oral health.

"Our general public should be made fully aware that to have a life long set of healthy teeth is an asset of healthy living and good quality life. "The key to this is an all out oral health promotion and education by the dental workforce in this country at all levels and the integration of this responsibility with other health care entities both at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels.

"There must be a way whereby we can merge the disciplines of dental public health with the various clinical entities so as to provide a complete oral health care package to our clients. My recommendation to you all is to explore various options whereby you can make use of opportunities like this and organize future FDI/MOH conventions to include both clinical, promotion and prevention scientific sessions so that we all can benefit from the best of both worlds," he said. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin