2 News DeNtal tribuNe | January-March, 2010 FDI, FOLA, and DTI launch campaign for Haitian dentists Dr Prophet said, in his email, that "many of our colleagues have lost their practices and we were thinking about how to help them. It's very good news to know that FOLA, FDI and Dental Tribune are trying to help Haitian dentists." If dentists know "that help is on the way they can have hope!" Dental Tribune will publicize, in its worldwide print and online editions, the campaign for Haiti. At a meeting in Panama, FOLA president Adolfo Rodríguez, center, asking for help for Haiti at a meeting in Panama. In the image, he's surrounded by the president, right, and vice president of the Panama Dental Association participating in dental teams to help the most urgent needs of the Haitian population. The president of FOLA said, “this tragedy is also an opportunity to build a public health service that includes dental care. We have asked the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), FDI, all Latin American dental associations, companies, and other institutions for help in putting together teams of dental professionals to travel to Haiti and start working there, and leave in place basic dental treatment centers." Dr. Rodrí-guez said that this will be a long-term programme that includes rebuilding the dental school at the university, as well as private practices. The Latin American dental leader said he has also asked for funding from the government of Dominican Republic. Companies and dentists interested in helping Haiti should contact Dr Rodríguez of FOLA received the support of the presidents of Central American Dental Associations, and made an emotional appeal to dental manufacturers to donate much needed supplies. He said, “Colgate has already agreed to donate brushes and toothpaste, and that he intended to meet with KaVo do Brasil in the upcoming CIOPS meeting in Sao Paulo to ask for donations of new and used dental units.” Some prominent Latin Javier M. de Bison DT Latin America health resources, but also most dental practices. In a country were there were only 500 dentists for nine million people before January 12th, the extent of the devastation has affected regular people and dental professionals alike. The president of the Latin American Dental Federation (FOLA), Dr. Adolfo Rodríguez, launched a campaign after the quake asking companies and dental professionals to donate dental instruments, materials, and equipment. He's organising the campaign for Haiti with the help of FDI World Dental Federation, and Dental Tribune International. In addition, Dr. Rodríguez is putting together teams of dental volunteers to travel to Haiti to attend to the dental needs of the population. "We also need to show our support for our colleagues in Haiti, most of whom have lost everything," Rodriguez said. "We need to get them back on their feet by helping them to rebuild their practices." PANAMA CITY, Panama: The president of the Haitian Dental Association Dr. Samuel Prophet has told Dental Tribune Latin America that he and several colleagues, he was able to contact in Port-au-Prince were fine after the devastating earthquake in his country. "So far, we only have reports of two missing dentists", Prophet wrote in an email. The recent earthquake not only devastated Haiti’s meager Dr. Rodriguez at arn@codetel. net.do, phone at +809 519-0789. DT American Dental Professionals from Brazil, Uruguay, and Costa Rica among others have already expressed their interest in Dental health meet to raise awareness in public Dr. Isha Goel DT India eases including diabetes, AIDS, certain cancers, eating disorhealth awareness ders, venereal disease, and substance abuse can be traced through one’s oral health.” He further added, “in recent years, dozens of studies have shown that periodontal disease may contribute to cardiovascular disorders, stroke and bacterial lung infection, and thus, maintaining good oral health is important for overall health, and the mouth can serve as a looking glass.” Expressing her concern at the growing incidence of dental problems in school-going children, the chief minister, Mrs. Shiela Dixit said, “preventing tooth decay in youngsters by intervening early should be initiated at school itself. More than 80 % of population is suffering from various dental ailments and most of them are preventable with early education.” On the occasion, the MAIDS was also entrusted with the task to provide dental emergency services to the athletes and delegates during the 2010 Commonwealth Games, which are to be held in the city in October this year. GB Pant Hospital, a tertiary care facility located in the same campus will offer other emergency services to the participants of this sports meet. DT A dental program ‘Dental Health Utsav’ for the public was organized in Delhi that registered attendance by about 5000 city folks. This mass outreach gathering was held at the Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences (MAIDS) on 15th of December, 2009, as part of an annual public health initiative to raise awareness on the importance of role of dental health to stay fit. In addition to providing free health check-up and advice, the organizers conducted events to engage public with lecture sessions, smile competition, and a dental quiz, to get the message across. This assembly was well attended by representatives of the establishment, including the chief minister, the health minister, and the health secretary of Delhi. Dr. Mahesh verma, head of the MAIDS and chief orgnizers of this meeting, commented, “the first symptoms of various dis- Courtesy: Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, New Delhi. International Imprint DENTAL TRIBUNE The World’s Dent al Newspaper India Ed ition Publisher Torsten Oemus t.oemus@dental-tribune.com Editor Dr. Isha Goel isha.goel@jaypeebrothers.com Editorial Consultants Dr. Gurkeerat Singh Dr. Amit Garg Published by Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd., India © 2010, Dental Tribune International GmbH. All rights reserved. Dental Tribune India makes every effort to report clinical information and manufacturer’s product news accurately, but cannot assume responsibility for the validity of product claims, or for typographical errors. The publishers also do not assume responsibility for product names or claims, or statements made by advertisers. Opinions expressed by authors are their own and may not reflect those of Dental Tribune International. Chairman DT India Jitendar P. Vij jaypee@jaypeebrothers.com Dental Tribune India BDZ/0909/04 Published by : Jaypee Brothers Medical Director Publishers (P) Ltd. P. N. Venkatraman 4838/24, Ansari Road, Daryaganj, venkatraman@jaypeebrothers.com New Delhi 110002, India Phone: 43574357 e-mail:jaypee@jaypeebrothers.com Chief Editor Website: www.jaypeebrothers.com Dr. Naren Aggarwal naren.aggarwal@jaypeebrothers.com