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Global Action to Reduce Inequalities
31st Oct 2005
The first ever global child dental health taskforce has been established to make tangible improvements in child oral health. The taskforce will initiate pan-European and wider global action between now and 2025 and is backed by the World Health Organisation, the World Dental Federation and over 40 chief dental officers and leading dental figures from across the world. Although oral health has steadily improved over the last 30 years, dental disease is still the number one disease affecting children, occurring five to eight times more frequently than asthma, the second most common chronic disease. In industrialised countries the majority of schoolchildren are affected by dental decay, disease levels being highest in the under-privileged groups. Dental disease levels are also increasing rapidly in the developing countries. The taskforce will encourage sharing of resources and best practice between international dental leaders. The initiative comes during the UK’s presidency of the European Union Reducing health inequalities is a key theme of the UK presidency. England's ex-chief dental officer professor Raman Bedi said: ‘Good oral health is fundamental to good health overall. We are establishing this taskforce to improve oral health amongst children on an international level and reduce oral health inequalities. The taskforce will ensure effective sharing of information on preventative measures and work to implement initiatives to improve oral health inequalities within and between nations.’
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