Aruoriwo Ivovi
Delta State Head of Service (HoS), Mr. Reginald Bayoko has stressed the need for members of the Nigerian Dental Association to build closer synergy with other key health care practitioners especially in the areas of population-based dentistry, disease prevention, the promotion of dental health, and the surveillance of oral health of Deltans.
Mr. Bayoko stated this while declaring open the 2023 elective Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Dental Association (NDA),
Delta State Branch, held in Asaba, the Delta State Capital on Friday.
The Delta head of Service who was the Special Guest of Honour at the occasion, told members of the association to work together to create a “roadmap” that would ensure that every Deltan had access to quality oral health care, regardless of their location or socio-economic status.
He expressed hope that the conference with the theme ““Road Map for Accessible Quality Oral Healthcare in Nigeria: Delta State, A case Study.” Would be productive and lay a foundation for a better future for oral healthcare in the State.
The Delta number one Civil Servant noted that the gathering which was attended by renowned scholars and professors from various institutions, would provide a unique opportunity to discuss ways to make oral health care more accessible to the citizens of the state in particular and by extension, Nigerians.
Bayoko who was also presented with an Excellent Service Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the growth of the association and oral health practice in the State, said he was humbled by the recognition.
He commended the initiative of the association in providing oral health education and free oral health screening and treatment for Civil Servants, while commemorating the 2022 World Oral Health Day Celebration in Delta State.
“I recall how you mobilized both your members and medical equipment to my office, where a sizeable portion of Civil Servants benefitted from the free oral health screening and treatment”.
While lauding the Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa administration for putting in place deliberate policies and programmes to enhance excellent health care delivery in the state and for adopting various measures to safeguard and promote the welfare of health care workers in general, said the importance of oral health care practitioners and other healthcare workers cannot be over-emphasized.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Delta State Branch of the Nigerian Dental Association, Dr. (Mrs.) Yvonne Mabiaku, in her welcome remarks, stated that there was no gainsaying that quality and optimum oral healthcare was key to wholistic general and well-being, hence according to her “a healthy mouth, a healthy body”.
She opined that the burden of providing accessible and quality oral health care for all deltans was a multi-headed hydra that was surmountable that required all stakeholders to be adequately enlightened and guided.
Dr. Mabiaku while paying glowing tributes on the Head of Service for being a dependable partner and a huge supporter of the association, said all hands must be on deck and united to fight for accessible quality oral health for all.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion and Vice Chancellor of the Delta State University, Abraka, Prof. Andy Egwunyenga, emphasized the importance of Nigerian Dental Association in promoting oral health education, adding that the association had become an authoritative voice of dentistry and oral health in Nigeria known for professionalism and competence.
The Vice Chancellor who was represented by Prof. Olannye Peter stated that members of the association play key vital role in society, saying that oral healthcare in Nigeria had called for increased attention and commended the concerted efforts of the association in organizing the conference.
