Tanzania invests 17bn/- to boost oral, dental health services
DODOMA: THE Ministry of Health has invested a total of 17bn/- to improve equipment for oral and dental health services in the country.
The announcement was made in Dodoma by the Director of the Department of Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health Services, Dr Ahmad Makuwani, who represented the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr Seif Shekalaghe, at the 40th Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Tanzania Dental Association (TDA).
Dr Makuwani stated that the investment has strengthened medical equipment used in dental services and enabled specialist doctors to reach citizens through mobile outreach services. This initiative has significantly reduced cases of tooth loss and severe health complications.
“This step has improved the quality of services and allowed specialist doctors to reach citizens through mobile clinics, which has contributed to lowering the risk of tooth extraction and other serious health problems,” said Dr Makuwani.
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For his part, the Assistant Director of Oral and Dental Health Services, Dr Baraka Nzobo, urged the public to take advantage of the services provided by oral and dental health specialists. He emphasised that this is crucial in fulfilling the Ministry of Health’s commitment to ensuring that every Tanzanian avoids dental gaps or tooth loss.
“I urge Tanzanian citizens to come forward and use our professional services, in line with the Ministry of Health’s mission to ensure every Tanzanian is free from dental gaps or tooth loss. There has been a belief that elderly people must lose two or three teeth, which is not true,” said Dr. Nzobo.
The national commemoration, themed “Enabling Technological Innovation to Advance Oral and Dental Health in Tanzania,” is held over an entire week. Although it is launched in a different region each year, citizens across the country are allowed to meet oral and dental specialists and receive treatment.
