Orile Agege GH Partners Education District I to Sensitise Students on Oral Health  

In an effort to create awareness about oral health and reduce morbidity as well as mortality rates in Lagos communities, the Orile Agege General Hospital, in collaboration with Education District I, Agege, has held its maiden edition of the School Oral Health Programme with the theme: “No Child Left Behind”, at the Lagos Baptist Senior Secondary School and Lagos Senior Baptist College, Oke-Odo.
 
The maiden edition of the oral health programme, which started on April 25th and ends on the 29th of April, 2022, has in attendance students of Lagos Baptist Senior Secondary School, Lagos Baptist Senior College, Unity Senior College, Oke-Odo, Oke-Odo Senior High School and Oke-Odo Junior Secondary School.
 
In his address at the opening, Commissioner II in the Lagos State Health Service Commission, Dr. Mobolaji Olukoya, said 50 million active school hours are lost due to dental diseases and other medical conditions. 
 
These diseases, he said, are preventable if school authorities compel students to carry out a comprehensive medical examination at both junior and senior entry levels.
 
Also speaking, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Orile Agege General Hospital, Dr. Sola Pitan, said the initiative was designed to bring free healthcare service delivery to Lagos communities.
 
“The oral health programme is targeted at screening 10,000 students from 99 schools in Education District I while the sensitisation programme is to give people at the grassroots access to free dental care services. This is to prevent people from patronising quacks and help reduce morbidity and mortality rate in our various communities”, Pitan said.
 
The MD/CEO enjoined individuals, dental organisations and private institutions to partner with Orile Agege General Hospital on the school oral health agenda to reach wider Lagos communities.
 
In her address, the Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary Education District I, Barr. (Mrs.) Margaret Titilayo Solarin, commended Orile Agege General Hospital and its team on the success of the programme.
 
She, however, urged the MD/CEO to extend the sensitisation programme on oral health to the other 97 schools in the district so that they can also benefit from the free health service initiative.
 
Earlier, the Head of Department, Dental Services, Orile Agege General Hospital, Dr. Ahmed Adeniji, said the programme was created for public school students to enjoy free dental screening and acquire knowledge through oral health awareness talks, just as it is a way of giving back to society. 
 
Also, the Director of Dental Services, Health Service Commission, Dr. Edward Faminu, enjoined students and adults to wash their teeth twice a day and also have a dental routine check-up twice a year for better oral health.