Karachi: In the light of free dental checkup, an interactive oral health awareness session was arranged at ABSA School & college for Deaf on 21st September 2022. The BUDC, Health Care Professional (HCP) team participated in the activity.
The team comprised of Prof Kulsoom Fatima Rizvi (Vice-Principal & Head of Community Dentistry Department), Dr Maria Moin as Assistant Professor, Dr Mohsin Haider as Senior Lecturer and Dr Hajra Asghar as Lecturer in Department of Community and Preventive Dentistry. Dr Zoha Haque, Dr Anmol Zaman, Dr Maryam Gichki, Dr Areeba Aurangzeb, Dr Hania as House Officers along with students of 2nd year BDS.
Oral health promotion is for upliftment of oral health of community rather than an individual and has long‐term impact; it is advocated for disadvantaged and especially abled population where resources and manpower is limited. A handicapped individual may be defined as a person who has been prevented, because of his handicap from full participation in usual activities of daily life which in turns affects his oral health and oral health is an integral part of an individual’s general health.
The BUDC, HCP team reached the school at 9:30 am. The BUDC team was cordially greeted by the school principal and showed them around the campus. The target audience consists of 350 Deaf children and adults, with age range of 04 to 20 years; the activity was performed on 3 floors with separate supervisors on each floor. The Dental checkup was carried out by students of 2nd Year BDS supervised by faculty members and house officers. The children with hearing impairment were accompanied by their teachers who communicated the questions to them via sign language. The children were taught about brushing technique and information related to healthy and unhealthy food through video and play cards prepared by the students of 2nd year BDS. The lively interaction was filled with fun and entertainment keeping in view the concern of especially abled population and age of the recipients.
Dental checkup was provided to all children with hearing impairment and the oral health condition was recorded on validated WHO forms. The dental team was well dressed professionally and used proper sterilization and cross infection protocols. Children were also provided oral hygiene kits at the end of the program as an incentive sponsored by Colgate Pakistan.
The overall oral condition of these especially abled children was considered fair. The School Principal and staff members were very pleased with the oral health activity at their school and had their queries and problems addressed. The BUDC team looks forwards to conduct more of such oral health education and promotional awareness sessions. It was a good learning experience for both the school and the dental team at both ends.