What we do
FDI releases Open Letter on occasion of the first World Oral Health Day
12 September 2008 - Oral health is a neglected area of international health. The FDI hopes that added focus will be drawn to the importance of the prevention of oral diseases through educational, community and promotional activities commemorating World Oral Health Day.
FDI supports efforts to promote fluoride for oral health
13 June 2008 - A team of researchers, which includes Dr Habib Benzian of the FDI World Dental Federation, Dr Ann Goldman of the School of Public Health and Health Services at the George Washington University in Washington D.C., Dr Robert Yee and Dr Christopher Holmgren, experts to the FDI World Dental Development and Health Promotion Committee, compared the relative affordability of fluoride toothpaste in 48 countries. This study is the first to attempt to quantify the affordability of toothpaste across the globe.
A Day for the Young Victims of Noma
22 May 2008 - The FDI joined the International No Noma Federation and the World Health Organization in organising the first ever World Noma Day, which took place 22 May 2008. Events, which included a scientific programme, community activities and gala dinner, were held in Geneva, Switzerland. Attendees included representatives from each of the organising associations, ministers of health from Africa, members from the health profession, area school children and various press and media. World Noma Day was presided by Dr Bertrand Piccard, president of the Winds of Hope Foundation, and under the high patronage of Mr. Kofi Annan, former U.N. Secretary-General.
Sierra Leone addresses urgent oral health needs
22 Apr 2008 - The FDI World Dental Federation, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth Dental Association joined forces with Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health and Sanitation following a request by the government to address the urgent oral health needs of the country.
Africa lead in Integrating Oral Health into Chronic Disease Programmes
25 Sept 2007 - Africa will be the first region of the world to take tangible action in integrating oral health into other chronic diseases programmes.
Fluoride toothpaste helps prevent tooth decay
19 Sept 2007 - More than 70 experts in stomatology gathered at a conference on “Oral Health through Fluoride for China and Southeast Asia” on September 18-19, 2007, in Beijing, China.
WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care
Aug 2007 - Help shape the WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care by signing up as a Complementary Test Site.
World Noma Day Planning Meeting
July 2007 - More than 15 representatives from the No Noma Federation, FDI World Dental Federation, Winds Of Hope Foundation and World Health Organization convened at the FDI Head Office in Ferney Voltaire on 22 May for the planning of the first World Noma Day. The launch of the World Noma Day will take place on 22 May 2008 in Geneva, Switzerland at the International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG).
Read the Press Release
More information about World Noma Day (English/Français)
World Health Organization reignites focus on Oral Health
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Apr 2007 - Oral health and integrated disease prevention will be part of this year’s World Health Organization’s (WHO) World Health Assembly (WHA) agenda for the first time since 1981. It will be presented in the form of a resolution to be considered for adoption by the Assembly. The proposed resolution was based on the WHO’s report, “Oral health action plan for promotion and integrated disease prevention”. |
Meeting of the WHO Executive Board, Jan 2007 |
It addresses the following oral health issues in a comprehensive manner:
- Oral health is an integral part of general health and has a huge impact on well-being and the world’s economies.
- In many parts of the world, an alarming increase of oral diseases, such as caries and oral cancer can be observed.
- It is important to address oral health with an integrated approach based on the prevention of common risks such as tobacco use, high sugar consumption and poor hygiene.
- Moreover, appropriate workforce planning and health systems strengthening are necessary to provide affordable oral health care for all.
If the resolution is adopted, it will underline the active role of the Ministry of Health and National Dental Association of each Member State in improving oral health in their respective countries and around the world.
The FDI, as an NGO in official relations with the WHO, will take part in supporting the resolution by presenting a statement at the WHA meetings. It will also participate in a technical briefing on oral health and the WHA agenda item organised by the WHO Global Oral Health Programme. More information on the FDI’s involvement with the WHO can be found on the FDI website.
The WHA is the supreme decision-making body for WHO. It meets once a year in Geneva, Switzerland, usually in May, and is attended by delegations from all 193 of the WHO’s Member States. Its main function is to determine the policies of the organisation. This year’s WHA meeting will take place 14-23 May.
Live.Learn.Laugh. Lauches in China
September 2006 - The FDI, Unilever, and the Chinese Stomatological Association (CSA) launched its Live.Learn.Laugh. programme in China on 22 September during the 2006 FDI Annual World Dental Congress in Shenzhen. During the launching ceremonies, a certificate was awarded to Unilever’s Zhonghua Toothpaste by FDI President, Dr Michèle Aerden, recognising the partnership for the programme.
The Live.Learn.Laugh. programme, which aims to promote oral health globally, is a joint partnership between FDI and Unilever. Through Unilever’s operating companies worldwide, the two organisations have been working together with National Dental Associations in more than 40 countries to educate people of the importance of oral health. The campaign has already been implemented in many countries across Europe, the Africa and Asia and is proving very successful.
Tobacco or Oral Health Guide to benefit Chinese-Speaking Health Professionals
September 2006 - The Chinese version of the “Tobacco or Oral Health: An advocacy guide for oral health professionals” was launched at the World Dental Development and Health Promotion Forum at the 2006 FDI Congress. The translation of the guide from its original English version into traditional and simplified Chinese was taken up by The Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health.
Call to action for children’s oral health in the Philippines
August 2006 - Oral health of school children in the Philippines needs urgent attention according to the results of a national oral health survey presented during a conference in Manila.
Results of the survey revealed that 97.1% of 6-year-old children suffer from dental decay and 84.7% even show symptoms of dental infection. The care index was 0.0% in both age groups, indicating that no treatment has been performed among the 4050 examined children representing the 12 million public elementary school population of the Philippines. In addition, 20% of the 6-year-old and 16% of the 12-year-old children reported problems such as pain or discomfort in their mouth at the time they were questioned.
NOMA is a priority for the WHO African Region
July 2006 NOMA Contact Newsletter
Contents include:
- The WHO Action Against NOMA
- NOMA in the World
- Making NOMA an integral part of the fight against oral diseases in Benin
- NOMA and Buruli ulcer
- No-NOMA International Federation
- and more...
Read NOMA Contact Newsletter in English or in French.
Dr Aerden and Professor Luan Wenmin, Vice President of the CSA, expressed their commitments and confidence in the Chinese Live.Learn.Laugh. programme. Frank Breken, chairman of Unilever Greater China, said that the programme will provide educational projects to millions of people in the underdeveloped rural areas of China. Children in more than 20 cities will also benefit from the three-year programme.
