| Ministry of Health improving access to training for dental health professionals |
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| Wednesday, 10 March 2010 22:29 |
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Minister of Health, Hon. Rudyard Spencer says sustaining educational services, ensuring that there is sufficient access to development and training opportunities and access to services through the provision of qualified dental health professionals are important to efforts to reduce the incidence of chronic illnesses and improving the well being of Jamaicans.
In a speech delivered on his behalf by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Jean Dixon at the opening of the 13th annual Dental Auxiliaries Conference today (Wednesday, March 10, 2010), the Minister said many of the same risk factors for chronic illnesses can be linked to the development of dental health problems and vice versa.
“Our oral health can give us clues as to the health condition of our body because for the most part one mirrors the other. If the Caribbean region expects to achieve its health objectives, then there has to be a focus on good oral health as regular oral check ups can reduce the impact of these diseases and can also prevent complications from chronic illnesses,” said Minister Spencer.
He says one of the main challenges of the health sector is the shortage of health workers.
“It would take a considerable investment to address the labour shortage in health. The recent World Bank Study on nursing labour in CARICOM estimates that the cost of expanding training capacity and improving completion rates for nurses between 2009 and 2020 could total up to US$ 31 million. The cost for all groups including doctors, dentists and pharmacists would be phenomenal,” he pointed out.
He says despite the financial difficulties, the Ministry of Health in partnership with the Ministry of Education and other educational institutions is moving to address these human resource challenges.
“We have entered into an agreement that will facilitate the training of dental nurses, dental hygienists and technologists as well as dental assistants, through the School of Dental Sciences at the University of Technology (UTECH). This is also in partnership with the University of Maryland. The programme is well underway as the first cohort of students began in September last year,” he pointed out.
Meanwhile, a scholarship/grant programme was also launched today by the Dental Nurses Association. The initial award of $40,000 is to be given to two second year Dental Nursing students of the Dental Auxiliary School. To qualify, students must be Jamaican, bonded to the country, in good standing with the institution, of good moral character and display financial need. It is hoped that in future, the sum under the programme will be increased and also available to second and third year students of the School of Dental Sciences at UTECH.
-30- Contact: MOH, Public Relations Unit Tel: 967-1561 |