Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Background on World Oral Health Day
Background on World Oral Health Day
The FDI World
Dental Federation established World Oral Health Day
following an
initiative of the FDI's World Dental
Development & Health Promotion Committee.
The aim of such a commemorative day is to provide an occasion for global, regional and national activities related to oral health. Since in various countries, similar days or weeks already exist, the intention is not to replace the ongoing national activities, but rather to complement existing national days and to provide further occasions to create awareness for oral health. It is possible, depending on the international resonance to World Oral Health Day, that national activities align to the global date in the future. It is also possible as well to establish the day within the United Nations/WHO system of global commemorative days at a later stage.
A survey conducted among FDI members
was undertaken to find out more about
current national
and/or regional oral health days/weeks. The results of this
survey were overwhelmingly supportive and positive. The
response rate was more than 70% and the vast majority of
respondents felt that such a global day would help in their
advocacy work. Based on this information, the month of
September was chosen as the most appropriate period of the
year for a World Oral Health Day, since most national
activities are already happening during this month. 12
September was chosen to coincide with existing oral health
days around the world, to honour the birthday of FDI
founder, Dr Charles Godon and to jointly celebrate the
anniversary of the groundbreaking WHO’s International
Conference on Primary Health Care at Alma Ata, which took
place on 12 September 1978.
The very first international day related to oral health was celebrated in 1994, the International Year of Oral Health, when the World Health Organization's World Health Day was dedicated to oral health. The FDI is keen to establish the new World Oral Health Day on 12 September of each year in order to support the improvement of oral health worldwide.
In the
future, the FDI will provide a theme and supportive material
for member
associations and other interested parties in
order to promote activitiesrelated to the day. The FDI
website will provide additional information and list related
World Oral Health Day events around the world and help in
disseminating information on oral health and prevention.
ENDS
UNICEF Aotearoa NZ: Vanuatu Quake - UNICEF Aotearoa Launches Urgent Fundraising Appeal For 40,000 Children In Need
New Zealand Defence Force: Surveillance, Aid, Responders And Evacuees Covered By RNZAF Vanuatu Flights
Leonard C. Goodman, IMI: The Democratic Party Faces Its Day Of Reckoning
APEC: Korea Sets Ambitious Priorities For APEC 2025 - Building A Sustainable Tomorrow
New Zealand Defence Force: NZDF Support To Vanuatu
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Türk Welcomes 2nd International Decade For People Of African Descent, Calls For Bold Action To Deliver Real Change