By  Dayo Adesalu

As part of its strategic plan to tackle oral diseases which represent a major public health problem in the country, the management of St Kizito Clinic, Lagos has partnered Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, SNEPCO, to set up a dental unit.

Alda Gemmani, Medical Director, St Kizito Clinic Lagos while speaking at the inauguration of the dental unit in Lagos said: “Dental health issues are yet to receive priority attention due to competitive health demands resulting in high prevalence of the consequences of poor oral health.

Gemmani disclosed that periodontal disease and dental caries are two major oral health problems, while others include; malocclusion, traumatised anterior teeth, dental fluorosis, and oral tumours.

He said that the clinic’s daily consultations revealed poor oral health and dental hygiene among both the adults and the children who are most vulnerable adding that this issue not only causes pain but loss of working hours, leading to a reduced income for the family, with its antecedent stress.

Preventive dental health

According to him, “The Clinic started preventive dental services and educational programmes among the patients and students of Ilasan-Jakande, Lekki; Idi-Araba, Mushin and Oreta, Ikorodu environs.

“So the need of a dental unit to address the patients’ needs grew due to the lack of an accessible and affordable dental clinic in these areas.”

The medical director SNEPCo, said the partnership will provide oral and dental care to the local communities.

“The prompt support through this dental unit will enable essential preventive and curative dental services, reducing teeth decay and loss as well as prevent dental complications that could be potentially life threatening amongst 70,000 patients and school children yearly,” he noted.