The Acting Vice Chancellor, Fiji National University – Professor Unaisi-Nabobo Baba;
President of the Oral Health Pacific Island Alliance; The Dean College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences— Dr. William May;
The Chair, National Dental Directors of Australia – Mr. Mark Chilvers;
The Chief Oral Health Officer, Dental Health Services Victoria – Dr. Martin Hall;
The Chief Dental Officers from the respective Pacific Island Countries;
Distinguished Guest Speakers from abroad and Fiji;
Corporate Sponsors;
Distinguished guests;
Ladies and gentlemen.
Miau sa bula re and Warm greetings to you all!
It gives me great pleasure to address this banquet dinner, of the 6th Pacific Island Chief Dental Officer meeting, which is an important event for the dental fraternity and I also take this opportunity to thank you all for this invitation to be part of this event. I understand that you all have had three days of fruitful discussions and constructive sharing of ideas that affect oral health in the region and that you will continue to do so in the next few days.
Oral Health is defined by the World Health Organization as and I quote “the state and health of the mouth, teeth, gums and oral-facial structures that enables individuals to perform essential functions, such as eating, speaking and smiling and encompasses psychosocial dimension, such as self-confidence, well-being, and the ability to socialise and work without pain, discomfort and embarrassment.” Unqoute
Ladies and gentlemen, I personally believe that oral health is very important, and everyone must ensure that they practice good oral health and hygiene. Oral health varies over the course of our lives that is from early life to old age. Studies have shown that the link between oral diseases and general heath are multifaceted and complex. I am not a dentist but I do understand from my personal dentist that if uncontrolled, bacteria in the mouth can multiply and enter the bloodstream,
affecting other parts of the body and gum disease, in particular, has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, respiratory ailments and even more long term diseases.
Therefore, in simple terms the impact of poor oral health and hygiene can lead to common risk factors of systemic diseases and NCDs. It is therefore important to note that oral health is integral to general health as it supports and complements the individual in interaction on a daily basis, participating in society and ultimately achieving their purpose. I have been reliably informed that the WHO – World Health Assembly adopted the resolution to also embed Oral Health within the non-communicable disease and universal health coverage agendas.
Last year, the Global Oral Health Strategy was announced with the development of the draft Global Oral Health Action Plans. This is an achievement for Oral Health and as Oral Health Leaders; I congratulate you and in turn encourage you to continue working towards achieving the needed targets and meeting your key performance indicators. This meeting is indeed timely, as you have converged to discuss the Global Oral Health Strategy as well as working towards establishing a Global Oral Health Action Plan tailor-made for the region. It is also a great opportunity for sharing innovative ideas amongst your colleagues as well as sharing your country profile updates and what worked well for you during the pandemic.
Some smaller island countries may have experienced more challenges than others and this is the forum to bring those issues and take up ideas and resolutions that can help you with your daily operations going forward.
The Oral Health Pacific Island Alliance is an important forum as it aims to promote and represent the practice of oral health in the Pacific region. It has provided a forum for Pacific regional oral health professionals to deliberate on matters that affect oral health in the region and develop shared solutions. I hope that you will all join hands and strengthen your relationship inclusive of other stakeholders to advocate for oral health.
We all look forward to continued collaboration between dentists and physicians and that obstacles to the communication and exchange of information are to be eliminated. Early detection of NCDs and oral diseases is essential and Interaction between dentists and physicians is necessary to optimise screening. The common risk factors require common/coordinated preventive strategies between dentists and physicians. In particular in tertiary prevention, health promotion measures should be coordinated among oral healthcare providers.
I hope that the four-days meeting will be a success as you work together as Pacific regional oral health professionals and experts and take advantage of the international facilitators and guest speakers who have joined you in this meeting sharing with you the wealth of knowledge and experiences that they bring.
At this juncture, it would be rather remiss of me not to commend the hard work and great effort of the Oral Health Pacific Island Alliance and the commitment and partnership with the Fiji National University, the Pacific Community and the Corporate Sponsors for hosting this meeting – Vinaka Vakalevu for the great work and commitment aimed at achieving the common good for all!
To the speakers and participants visiting from abroad, I welcome you to Fiji and hope that you will find time to experience Fiji and that you will have great memories to take home with you.
I am greatly pleased to see a great number of participants present today and I would like to commend you all for attending and making this meeting an interactive one.
Vinaka vakalevu, and Thank you and may Almighty God bless you all and our beloved Fiji.