Koforidua: Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, has commended the Ghana Dental Association for launching a website aimed at improving public access to oral health information and facilitating connections with dental professionals. He hailed this initiative as a significant advancement in oral healthcare delivery and communication between the public and service providers.
According to Ghana News Agency, the commendation was part of a speech delivered on behalf of Prof. Akoriyea by Dr. Lawrence Ankrah at the 34th Annual General Congress of the Ghana Dental Association in Koforidua. Themed 'Dental Quackery in Ghana: The Silent Epidemic - Awareness, Action, Accountability,' the event highlighted the detrimental effects of misleading advertisements and unregulated dental practices on public health, especially oral health.
Prof. Akoriyea pointed out the dangers posed by dental quackery, which involves untrained individuals providing unsafe or unethical dental care. He stressed the importance of public education campaigns to empower individuals to make informed oral health decisions and urged the establishment of a comprehensive database for patient information to combat dental quackery effectively.
In his speech, Prof. Akoriyea called for increased distribution of qualified dentists across regions, districts, and sub-districts, and urged practitioners to accept postings to district facilities. He also announced efforts to reactivate mobile dental vans to serve underserved communities.
Dr. Cecilia A. Kakrabah-Quarshie, President of the Ghana Dental Association, referenced research by Bakhtawer Aziz et al. (2023), which identified low socioeconomic status, inadequate awareness, and limited accessibility as factors pushing patients toward unqualified practitioners. She emphasized that dental quackery has become a silent epidemic, with unlicensed individuals performing harmful procedures.
In response, the association plans to amplify public education efforts through clinics, schools, media, and online platforms. Dr. Kakrabah-Quarshie urged corporate sponsors to invest in mobile clinics and outreach initiatives, and called on policymakers to strengthen decentralized services and enforce licensure laws rigorously.
She appealed to law enforcement to monitor and prosecute offenders, and expressed readiness to partner with the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service in policy making, implementation, and advocacy. Dr. Kakrabah-Quarshie highlighted the alignment of the association's initiatives with Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to health, inequality, and partnerships.
The congress also featured an exhibition showcasing various dental products and services.
