DENTAL HEALTH AROUND THE WORLD COURTESY ROTARY INTERNATIONAL

Rotary International (RI) is a worldwide organization composed of leaders and “do-ers” in their respective communities.  RI has tackled numerous global service projects in an effort to improve lives regardless of country, race, gender, creed, or political ideologies.  An example:  RI set a goal of eradication of polio worldwide by the year 2000, and largely achieved that goal.

Another health-related goal RI Districts 5160 (North Central California), 9212 (Kenya), and 6150 (North and Central Arkansas) are addressing is KENYA SMILES: Improving the Oral Health of Children, a unique preventive care model begun in Kenya to be replicated throughout East Africa and planted next in Myanmar.  Before the end of 2014, a multi-national group of Rotarians will travel to Myanmar to coordinate and deliver an oral health component consisting of good nutrition education and preventive care information along with the distribution of individual dental care kits to as many as 3000 children.

The RI initiative, KENYA SMILES, is “improving the oral health of children in Kenya through a sustainable dental preventive care program that promotes education, provides information, and builds awareness about oral health to help free children from preventable tooth decay and mouth pain.” states an article written by participating Rotarians.  Kenya’s population is estimated to be 43 million, served by fewer than 1000 licensed dentists.  KENYA SMILES has already proven to be an invaluable help in closing this gap by providing positive, sustainable results that can be replicated in countries around the globe.

The program has brought together dental associations, dental schools, universities, government authorities, corporations, foundations, and individuals in the U.S. and Kenya.  Practicon, Inc. is pleased and honored to be a supporter of this far-reaching, vitally important initiative.