Dental Association to host Dorian relief event

Dental Association to host Dorian relief event

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Bahamas Dental Association (BDA) will host a free oral health clinic for storm evacuees and displaced persons in the first and largest initiative in its history.

The “Hurricane Dorian Bahamas Dental Health Relief” (HDBDHR) program begins today and will run through the weekend at the Church of God of Prophecy (COGOP) Children’s Chapel, East Street.

This program will provide free oral health assessments and treatment to students under the age of 21 and is expected to offer care to approximately 1,500 persons.

Treatment will be provided in coordination with Dental Associations such as the National Dental Association, the Ministry of Health, international corporate partners such as Henry Schein, Inc., and nonprofit humanitarian groups such as Remote Area Medical, International Medical Relief, and Christian Dental Society.

“This weekend-long event will help educate our community about the importance of oral health, and its connection to overall health and public wellness,” said Dr. Joy Pickstock, BDA treasurer and event co-chairperson.

“It is the BDA’s mission to help advance that understanding and we thank our partners for joining us in these efforts to help the Bahamas recover and rebuild.”

Treatments include oral health examinations, cleanings, basic procedures including fillings and minor oral health surgeries.

Event hours are:

  • Friday, October 20 – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Saturday, October 26 – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Sunday, October 27 – 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Monday, October 28 – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event represents BDA’s partnership with the International Dental Federation (FDI) and its global mission of sensitizing citizens from over 200 member countries around the world to the importance of oral health, and its correlation to overall General Health and wellbeing.

“The BDA agrees that, “There is No Health Without Oral Health,” and that, “Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body: It All Starts here”,” read a BDA statement.

“In view of this, the BDA feels mandated to ensure that Oral Health be prioritized as an essential component of Universal Health Care in The Bahamas by promoting and engaging in programs and initiatives that assess, prevent, diagnose, and treat dental disease — particularly for the nation’s marginalized population — in the hope of stemming the tide of deteriorating General Health and wellbeing related to poor oral health.”