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From 6 July 2006, a graphic version of the current edition is available at the Daily News Online web site.

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Officiating at the Natale Village Oral Health Day last week, Ms Nkau said this level of progress was made possible by well organised preventative programmes that include widespread use of fluoridated water and fluoride toothpastes.

She however said there is still evidence of the global escalation of two major oral diseases, namely tooth decay and gum disease.

"This general deterioration of oral health is attributed to factors such as the general poor oral hygiene and bad dietary habits, which are characterised by an increase in the consumption of sugary foods," she said.

Ms Nkau noted that the Oral Health Division is committed to increasing access to oral health services by providing outreach services to the primary schools and the communities that are devoid of dental facilities. "The outreach services entail oral health education, screening people for oral diseases and providing treatment as necessary," she said.

"On the other hand, provision of oral health programmes is a well known concept of the World Health Organisation's global school health initiative, which has four main broad areas." She said the initiatives include building capacity, advocating for improved school health programmes, carrying out research in order to improve school health programmes so as to create networks and alliances for the development of health promotion in schools and strengthening national capacity.

She encouraged regular tooth brushing, regular dental checkups and dietary control.

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