- MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
- 2007 ELECTIONS RESULTS
- FDI & SWEDISH DENTAL ASSOCIATION PREPARE FOR THE 2008 CONGRESS
- 2007 POLICY STATEMENTS
- GUIDELINES FOR CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- IDEM SINGAPORE: 4-6 APRIL 2008
- POSTPONED: CONFERENCE FOR ORAL
HEALTH IN THE AMERICAS - PEOPLE WITH DIABETES NEED TO PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO ORAL HEALTH
- U-SHOOT – FDI AND WRIGLEY PHOTOGRAPHIC AWARD 2008
- CORE COMPETENCIES FOR HEALTH CONSULTANTS
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
The FDI’s vision, “Leading the World to Optimal Oral Health”, is a huge challenge and I firmly believe that we are making a positive difference in this regard. Our dental development programmes are improving access to care, establishing the value of health promotion and public education and improving the ability of dentists around the world to provide care to their patients.
Dr Burton Conrod
FDI President
The work of our dedicated and highly skilled staff and the vision and commitment of our members and volunteers have given the FDI the expertise and ability to manage huge global health projects. The HAPPEN Project in Africa, is being designed to provide multi-faceted support for the dental profession in Africa, in order to improve access to care on that continent. The Conference for Oral Health in the Americas being undertaken with WHO/PAHO in Peru will allow the profession to engage senior government officials in a meaningful way on oral health issues and discuss ways to improve the health of their populations. The Millennium Villages project in Africa, in conjunction with the United Nations, will bring new hope and fresh ideas to bear on the problem of providing care in limited resource settings.
We have proven the benefits of fluoride promotion and recognised oral health as an integral part of general health and the need for integrated disease prevention. Both the FDI staff and our volunteers demonstrate a contagious enthusiasm that we have become a major presence in global health advocacy. Much of our progress has been achieved by leveraging our own resources with effective partnerships with the dental industry and other health organisations.
One focus of my presidency will be on cooperation and collaboration – building and strengthening the partnerships that FDI needs to achieve our goals. Cooperation means sharing common agendas, ideas and resources to avoid duplication. We need strong partnerships with member associations, sections, regional organisations, affiliate members, the dental industry and outside organisations like the World Health Professions Alliance.
I believe that every member association both large and small has something to contribute to our work and something to gain from what we do. If we become more effective in meeting the needs of our member associations, FDI will be an even more powerful advocate for world oral health. I admire the way FDI can respect the diversity of the world’s dentists and yet enable them to set aside their differences and work together on common health problems by emphasising their strengths and minimising their weaknesses. I believe that we must become even more inclusive to remain relevant in all regions, cultures and languages and also in every aspect of oral healthcare.
Following a very successful congress in Dubai, we have some very ambitious plans to deliver our mission to promote oral and general health for all peoples. In looking forward to my term as president, I fully recognise the responsibility that I have accepted and I appreciate the wonderful opportunity that the FDI has given me to play a role in this important work.