For the attainment of Government’s vision of universal health coverage and a healthy population, the Ministry of Health is implementing activities towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as well as the attainment of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the health sector by the year 2030. Oral health contributes to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and it is currently considered as a key indicator of overall health, wellbeing and quality of life.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines oral health as ‘a state of being free from mouth and facial pain, oral and throat cancer, oral infection and sores, periodontal disease, tooth decay, tooth loss and other diseases and disorders that limit an individual’s capacity in biting, chewing, smiling, speaking and psychosocial wellbeing.’
Recent scientific evidence indicates associations between oral health and a variety of general health conditions – including diabetes and heart disease. In response, the World Health Organization has integrated oral health into its chronic disease prevention efforts as their risk factors are linked.
The recognition that oral diseases have detrimental consequences on physical and psychological wellbeing is the reason why actions should be taken to improve oral health and reduce the burden of other diseases especially Non - Communicable Diseases. Adequate public investments in oral health professional education are among the actions recommended to create an effective global oral health workforce.
Dentists and the dental team are responsible for the development and implementation of oral healthcare services and the provision of equitable and appropriate oral healthcare for all. The dentists lead the team and are responsible for diagnosis, providing oral healthcare and prescriptions as well as supervision and management.
Deficits in the oral health workforce are a major threat to the realisation of the Ministry’s goal. The establishment of the School of Dentistry (SOD) at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) is relevant to Ghana’s development as it contributes to improving the number and quality of oral health workforce of Ghana and help meet the increasing need and demand for oral healthcare.
The Bachelor of Dental Surgery programme at the University of Health and Allied Sciences is a six-year programme is designed to help our trainees develop an awareness of public health service and policy, inter-professional cooperation, critical thinking, decision making, self-management, organizational culture reflection and interpersonal feedback.
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