Source: Press Information Bureau
The Government had launched the National Oral Health Programme (NOHP) in the year 2014-15 to strengthen the public health facilities of the country for an accessible, affordable and quality oral health care delivery.
Objectives
- To improve the determinants of oral health
- To reduce morbidity from oral diseases
- To integrate oral health promotion and preventive services with the general health care system
- To encourage the Promotion of Public Private Partnerships (PPP) model for achieving better oral health
Components of the programme
The programme has two components as under:
NHM Component: This is for the support of health facilities [District level and below] of the States/UTs with the following components of a Dental Unit
- Manpower support [Dentist, Dental Hygienist, Dental Assistant]
- Equipments including Dental Chair
- Consumables for dental procedures.
Tertiary Component:
- Designing Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials like Posters, TV Commercial, Radio Spots, Training Modules
- Organizing national, regional nodal officers training program to enhance the programme management skills, review the status of the programme
- Preparing State/District level Trainers by conducting national, regional workshops to train the paramedical health functionaries associated with health care delivery.
NOHP provides support to States/ UTs for IEC and outreach activities. Under the NHM component, the programme provides support for setting up of Dental Care Units at the District level and below. It encourages States/UTs to celebrate World Oral Health Day in March by conducting awareness generating activities (such as outreach camps and screening camps etc.).
At the Central level, under its Tertiary activities, the following steps have been taken:
- NOHP in collaboration with the Centre for Dental Education & Research (CDER), AIIMS, New Delhi has developed posters, pamphlets, and badges for distribution to States/ UTs as well as Government Dental Colleges.
- As a part of the World Oral Health Day celebrations on 20th March 2017, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched a TV commercial and radio jingle on oral health which has been aired on the Doordarshan network and Radio.
- MoHFW also launched 5 one page interactive games for school children helping them learn about tooth brushing and mouth rinsing while motivating them to maintain good oral hygiene.
- The IVRS helpline was launched as a means of generating awareness and providing knowledge pertaining to oral health.
- To promote awareness about oral health among the people, the posters have been distributed to States/UTs.
IVRS Helpline for Oral Health Programme
The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare launched an IVRS Helpline for Oral Health Programme on the occasion of World Oral Health Day on 20 March 2017 Which can be accessed through a toll-free number by any individual by dialing 1800-11-2032 with the aims to:
- Provide information regarding common oral health concerns
- Create awareness regarding the importance of oral health
- Dispel common myths regarding oral diseases
- Provide emergency instructions in case of common oral health diseases
