AFR/RC44/R13: Rev.1 Oral health in the African Region: Present situation and minimum action for improvement
The Regional Committee,
Considering resolution WHA36.14 (1983) of the World Health Assembly which called on Member States to follow the available strategies when developing their national oral health strategies;
Considering resolution AFR/RC30/R4 (1980) which called on Member States to integrate oral health into primary health care programmes;
Considering recommendations made by the Conference of Heads of Dental Health Services in the African Region (1969) and the Regional Expert Committee on Oral Health (1978), on the need to establish public dental health services;
Considering that Member States have accepted the African Health Development Framework and the District Health-for-All Package as structural and organizational strategies for accelerating the achievement of HFA/2000;
Bearing in mind that oral health problems are becoming a cause for serious concern in the countries of the Region, and that much can be achieved at low cost using preventive measures;
1. CONGRATULATES the Regional D irector for the information document (AFR/RC44/INF.DOC/3) which serves as a basis for improving national oral health programmes;
2. INVITES Member States:
(i) to formulate a comprehensive national oral health policy and plan based on primary health care, monitor its implementation and evaluate its impact;
(ii) to introduce oral health in the District Health for All Package in all districts;
(iii) to set up a mechanism or appoint a focal point in order to coordinate the implementation of national oral health programmes;
(iv) to develop adequate training programmes for oral health care workers at all levels particularly at the district level;
(v) to introduce preventive oral health education in the curriculum of teacher training institutions;
(vi) to make provision for an oral health programme budget which makes allowance for capital and recurrent expenditure.
3. REQUESTS the Regional Director:
(i) to continue to give the necessary technical support to Member States for the improvement of their national oral health programmes and their integration into primary health care;
(ii) to intensify efforts to mobilize adequate extrabudgetary resources with a view to strengthening programme activities in oral health;
(iii) to promote and support appropriate applied research activities aimed at providing solutions to oral health problems as well as for development of effective methods and means for their prevention and management;
(iv) to report to the forty-seventh session of the Regional Committee, on progress achieved in this programme.
September 1994, 44, 17
