A very unique and multi-dimensional event took place in Quetta recently, as the 'Young Dentists Forum Balochistan' and 'The Department of Comm-unity & Preventive Dentistry Bolan Medical College' jointly celebrated World Oral Health Day-2013. It was one of the most successful events ever conducted in the history of this dental department. The toolkit shared by the FDI was followed as guideline for organizing the event.Free Oral-Health Camp:
The program started with the inauguration of a "Free Oral-Health Camp" by the chief guest on the occasion, Dr. Nawaz Kibzai - Medical Supe-rintendent Sandman Provincial Hospital, Quetta. He was acco-mpanied by Prof. Dr. Zia-ul-Haq, (Head of Dental Section BMC), Asstt. Prof. Dr. Mejeeb Baloch (Head of Community & Preventive Dentistry deptt.) and Prof. Dr. Syed Rauf Shah (Maxillofacial Surgery deptt.) along with other senior faculty members who participated in the inaugural ceremony.
More than 300 patients visited the camp and received counseling, IEC materials, medicines, tooth pastes and mouth-washes. The chief guest appreciated the efforts of young dentists for organizing the event and joining hands with FDI (World Dental Federation).
Dentists providing oral health education to patients at the waiting area of the camp.
Followed by the inauguration of this Free Oral Health Camp, a special walk was organized within the premises of Sandman Provincial Hospital, where more than 170 dentists and undergraduate BDS students, participated enthusiastically. The event was telecast by (Pakistan Television) PTV Bolan. The participants were carrying smileys, placards and banners with awareness messages for the community.
The walk ended at the premises of Dental department, where a poster exhibition was staged. More than 100 posters prepared by students were on display. The best three of these posters were awarded prizes and certificates. The chief guest also visited the exhibition where the participating students briefed him about their ideas and oral health promotion messages expressed in their posters. Dr. Zia-ul-Haq, Dr. Mujeeb Baloch, Dr. Tehmina Asad, Dr. Rauf Shah and Dr. Samad Gichki were the judges of the poster competition.
Dentists, dental auxiliaries, media and health department representatives signed a petit-ion, stressing on unity at natio-nal and international levels, to reduce the burden of oral dise-ases. A 6x4 banner was displa-yed at the poster competition, which was voluntarily signed by more than 200 individuals stating;
"By working together, we can unite our efforts to prevent the epidemic of caries, gum diseases and tooth loss and help our communities to maintain proper dentition for life"
Media Coverage:
One of the important aspects of the event was to involve and sensitize media on oral health issues. The event was extensively covered by the representatives of electronic and print media. The walk and poster competition was telecast live by the Pakistan Television Network (PTV). In the evening, five senior faculty members (Dr. Zia ul Haq, Dr. Ashfaq Khawaja Khail, Dr. Khalil Alizai, Dr. Samad Gichki and Dr. Niaz) were invited by PTV for discussion sessions in local languages to talk on World Oral Health Day and convey oral health awareness messages to the community through television.
The event ended up with comments by the senior staff who appreciated the efforts of YDF, especially Dr. Gul Zaman, who played a vital role in organizing the event.