Nagaland: Healthcare workers trained on oral care

Dimapur, Dec. 8 (EMN): National Oral Health Programme (NOHP) under the department of Health and Family Welfare conducted a one-day training on oral health care and tobacco control for government school teachers and urban Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) in the conference hall of Dr. Motsuo Memorial District Hospital, Wokha, on December 8.

Speaking at the programme, the medical superintendent of District Hospital, Wokha, Dr. Thungbemo Patton, impressed upon the need to maintain good oral health and avoid tobacco. He informed the urban ASHA to disseminate information on oral health and tobacco control to public with the help of colony chairmen.

Resource person and NTCP district nodal officer, Dr. Daisy Ovung, said oral diseases are preventable with proper oral hygiene and emphasised on role of healthcare workers and teachers to prevent from ill effect of tobacco. Dr. Daisy informed that 43 percent of school students in Nagaland use tobacco against the national average of 8.5 percent as per Global Youth Tobacco Use Survey.

An update from the office of the chief medical officer (CMO) of Wokha stated that Dr. Mhayani Jami, dental surgeon, took a session on common oral disease, periodontal diseases, dental decay process, risk factors, complications, early childhood caries, root canal treatment etc., while  Mharhoni R Ezong, NTCP social worker, explained on use of tobacco-free Nagaland application to school teachers.

In a related programme, National Oral Health Programme (NOHP) of Zunheboto division conducted training for community health officers (CHO), accredited social health activists (ASHA) and panchayat raj institutions (PRI) in the conference hall of the District Hospital, Zunheboto, on December 6 on the theme “Importance of oral health for overall health.”

An update from the CMO’s office stated that the programme was chaired by Rosemary Vitoli, NHM district programme manager.

It stated that the resource persons were Dr. Esther Chophy Ngullie, senior dental surgeon at District Hospital, Zunheboto, and Dr. Loni I Chishi, dental surgeon at District Hospital, Zunheboto.

Dr. Esther informed that the training was conducted to create awareness in the community about oral health and management of basic dental care services and emergencies in areas that are hard to reach. Describing oral cancer as the most common cancer, she elaborated on problems causing common oral health problems which included hormonal imbalance, nursing bottle caries that are prevailing in the community.

She has briefed on the importance of oral health, which has a major impact on overall health, medical costs, and quality of life.

In conclusion, Dr. Esther has enlightened the participants about the important role played by the healthcare workers in providing the first level services of early detection, screening and management of common dental diseases including dental emergencies.

Bovika Yeptho, social worker, presented an overview on the harmful effects of tobacco, while management of TB programme at block level was sensitised by Akavi Yeptho, NTEP, and Anatoli, STS, NTEP.