Karachi– Pakistan became the first country to celebrate World Oral Health Day in the World as WOHD in Pakistan was organized on 19th and 20th March because 20th was a Friday and hence a shortened day. Dental News in collaboration with Pakistan Dental Association launches World Oral Health Day 2015 (WOHD 2015) in Pakistan with ‘Smile for life’ campaign backed by FDI, JPDA, DTI, FDI partner associations and the local sponsor Shield Corporation. The theme of 2015 is smile for life which is to remind people everywhere about the importance of looking after their teeth and gums. World Oral Health Day is celebrated throughout the world on 20th March and in Pakistan this will be the 5th year running where Shield Corporation as part of their CSR activities sponsored the mega event. This year courtesy Shield Corporation and Pakistan Dental Association the programme has become bigger than ever before offering Free OPDs at over 36 dental college hospitals in 15 cities across Pakistan. The sponsors also arranged free checkup of school going children in 17 cities across Pakistan with extensive print and electronic media campaigns to create awareness amongst the masses. World Oral Health Day is an international day to celebrate the benefits of a healthy mouth and to promote worldwide awareness of the issues around oral health and the importance of looking after oral hygiene to everyone old and young. The activities in Pakistan started on the 15th of March with school programmes followed by a press conference by Pakistan Dental Association’s officials to highlight the prevailing oral health issues in Pakistan. The free checkup commenced on 19th and 20th of March and thousands of patients benefited from this activity. Patients were taught correct brushing techniques and were given a tooth brush and paste free of any charge. It is estimated that over 90% of the world’s population will suffer some form of dental disease in their lifetime but many of these can easily be treated or prevented with a good oral care routine. The WOHD 2015 ‘Smile for life’ is supplemented by the call to action ‘It’s time to act’. The partner institutions included Ayub Medical and Dental College, The University of Faisalabad, Isra University, Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences, Islamabad Medical & Dental College, Margalla College of Dentistry, Riphah International, Altamash Institute of Dental Medicine, Bahria University, Baqai Medical & Dental University, Dow International Dental College, Dr Ishrat-ul-ebad Khan Institute of Oral Health Sciences, Dow University, Dr Ziauddin University, Fatima Jinnah Dental College, Hamdard University Dental Hospital, Jinnah Medical & Dental College, Karachi Medical & Dental College, Liaquat College of Medicine & Dentistry, Sir Syed Dental College, CMH Lahore Medical College, de'Montmorency College of Dentistry, FMH Medical & Dental College, Lahore Medical & Dental College, The University of Lahore, Bhitai Medical & Dental College & Hospital, Nishter Medical & Dental College, Khyber College of Dentistry, Sardar Begum Dental College, Bolan Medical College, Bibi Asefa Dental College, Sh.Zayed Hospital Lahore, Sh, Zayed Hospital RYK and Islam Dental College. Incidence of Oral Cancer is the third biggest cancer in Pakistan and needs urgent attention and activities like Dental News which has spearheaded and initiated the World Oral Health Day in Pakistan with its sponsor Shield Corporation since 2010 has been working tirelessly to create oral health awareness throughout Pakistan with continued support from dental institutions where OPDs are free to mark the day.
