Tanzanian Government Pledges to Improve Dental Services
The Tanzanian government has promised to take steps to improve dental services in the country.
Speaking at a workshop run by the Tanzania Dental Association in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday, President Jakaya Kikwete said that access to oral health care was “a critical challenge” due to the ratio of dentists to people. According to statistics there are just 518 dentists in Tanzania, meaning the ratio of dentists to patients is 1:120,000, a figure that is significantly higher than the World Health Organisation’s recommended ratio of 1:7,500.
President Kikwete said that the government would focus on oral health and on increasing the number of dentists in the country to improve access to dental services. He promised that existing dental schools would be expanded and upgraded to allow more students to pursue dental courses.
President Kikwete also said that it was vital to instil good habits and encourage people to live by the mantra that prevention is better than cure and that oral health education needed to be improved, so that people know how to look after their teeth and gums and can make healthy food and lifestyle choices.
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