The American University of Nigeria (AUN) has won a grant of 10,000 Swiss francs (about N4.4million) from World Dental Development (FDI) to promote oral health in schools and primary health services in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in the Northeast region.
The Switzerland-based agency selected five countries – India, Rwanda, Tanzania, the United States, and Nigeria – as the 2022 World Dental Development Fund winners.
AUN, representing Nigeria, will use the grant to promote oral health in the Malkohi and Sengare Internally Displaced Persons (IDP's) host communities in Yola.
It will focus on school-age children, and once community health workers (CHWs) have been trained, school visits will be arranged for oral hygiene screening and awareness.
FDI, in their statement, said: "There is an urgent need for intervention and to bring oral healthcare to primary healthcare delivery, and sensitize stakeholders on preventative practices. The overall well-being of IDPs residing in host communities will be achieved by training schoolteachers on oral health promotion, in both primary and secondary schools in Malkohi and Sengare, so that it becomes integral to health education in schools.
"Established in 1999, FDI awards 10,000 CHF to educational and sustainable oral health projects that are designed to benefit individuals and communities. Projects must complement local, regional, or national strategic health aims within the country; they should also be developed in consultation with local authorities and stakeholders," this is from information on the FDI website.
Reported by Halima Muhammed