Update on Collaborating with WHO to Improve Oral Health in Underdeveloped Schools of Pakistan

Taking time for a cause greater than oneself provides an energy that cannot be measured in any unit. It is an amalgamation of gratitude, as you realize how privileged you are, and motivation—motivation to improve the situation for others. This drive brings an unquantifiable sense of relief.

As a team of qualified dentists, we felt a strong desire to give back to our town, our city, our country, and our people. There are children who suffer from malnutrition, children who lack even the basic knowledge of oral health. Our goal is to give these children a better chance at life.

Oral cancer is an unfortunate reality and one of the most common cancers in Pakistan. In fact, it is the second most common cancer after breast cancer in women, and the most common cancer among men. A major contributing factor is the consumption of betel nuts, tobacco, and similar substances, but I believe the root cause lies deeper.

The root cause is the lack of awareness from a young age, and we are determined to fight this menace. We need to educate children early so they don’t spend their adulthood in hospital rooms, waiting for the inevitable.

Children in private schools cannot be compared to students in government schools, who are not fortunate enough to afford the hefty fees of private institutions. Students in government schools lack any health and awareness-related content in their curriculum, and this is one of Pakistan's greatest misfortunes.

With this in mind, our team has dedicated the entire year of 2024 to focusing on these underprivileged schools.

Karachi is an enormous city with thousands of schools, so we had to start somewhere. We chose to dedicate the year 2024 to District East. We divided the year into three phases, and we are now approaching the end of the second phase, which will conclude in the last week of October.

We visited this school with the aim of providing free oral diagnosis to all the students, ensuring they receive the care and attention they deserve. Along with diagnosing, we educated the students on basic oral hygiene practices, addressing their dental queries and making them aware of the importance of oral health. Our goal was to empower them with knowledge that could help them avoid future oral issues.

In addition to working with the students, we actively involved the teachers, recognizing their vital role in shaping young minds. We educated them on how they could integrate oral health awareness into the curriculum, ensuring that the children receive regular guidance on maintaining oral hygiene. By equipping teachers with the necessary knowledge, we hope to create a lasting impact beyond our visit.

During our time at the school, we were able to examine over 75 students, providing them with personalized attention and diagnosis. Our dedicated team, consisting of qualified dentists, worked efficiently and passionately to ensure that each student was given the care they needed. The commitment from our team played a significant role in the success of the visit.

This visit was not just about providing immediate dental care but also about planting the seeds of long-term oral health awareness. Our goal is to make a sustainable impact by involving teachers and empowering students, ensuring a healthier future for these children.

We have taken on an immense responsibility, and I sincerely hope and pray that we succeed. We are fortunate to have a dental representative among us who is directly affiliated with the WHO, which collaborates with the biggest and most prestigious hospital in Pakistan, the Aga Khan Hospital.

Despite this, we still need both on-chain and off-chain support from people who share our vision of a better healthier future. Signing off.

Dr Huzaifa Naveed