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TRATEGY
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tissues. Although largely preventable, many people across the world still experience unnecessary pain, discomfort, limitation of eating leading to poor nutrition, and missed days from school and work as a result of oral diseases.
Oral health is an integral element of general health and well-being and is important in the overall quality of life. Oral diseases share some common risk factors with the four leading chronic diseases: cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease and diabetes.
These risk factors include unhealthy diet, tobacco use, poor oral hygiene and inadequate exposure to fluoride. Poor oral health negatively affects growth, development and learning for children through lost school days, nutrition, communication and self-esteem. Poor oral health is also a considerable economic burden on household budgets as these costs are in general borne mostly by individuals.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In our Region, data on basic oral health status are scarce and, when available, are rather old. However, looking at the prevalence of risk factors such as lack of water fluoridation, poor oral hygiene practices, and limited financial and oral health professionals, as well as the cost of oral health services, one can expect that oral diseases have increased in the Region.
During last year’s meeting in Isfahan, you all agreed that oral health promotion should be an integral component of general health promotion strategies, where interventions would tackle the underlying causes of oral diseases through actions on common risk factors and through population-based interventions and coordinated multisectoral action.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Since last year’s meeting, the Regional Office has been working to develop a regional strategy on oral health promotion, together with core indicators and standard survey tools to collect oral health data. Over the next three days, you will review and finalize the regional strategy on oral health promotion, including a core set of indicators with standard survey tools, and develop plans for adapting and implementing them in your countries. I am confident that your expertise and guidance will enhance the regional strategy and result in a clear roadmap for its successful operationalization.
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I wish you a very productive meeting and assure you of WHO’s continued support for such initiatives.
