Minister of environment, forest and climate change, Dr. Neikiesalie (Nicky) Kire has asked dental surgeons to create more awareness about dental health especially in rural areas of the State.
Speaking at inaugural programme of 13th Indian Dental Association Nagaland State Branch (IDANSB), conference and AGM at capital convention centre, Friday, Dr. Nicky highlighted the need to educate the common people about dental related diseases and precautions to be taken.
While urging the surgeons to be more active even in the rural areas, Dr. Nicky also advised them to keep in mind the financial status of people living in those areas while they avail treatment.
Dr. Nicky also expressed concern over Nagaland oral health survey 2014 which was conducted on school children age group between 8 to 13 year old. The report indicated “bleeding index of 24%, tobacco index of 14% and dental pain index of 40% to 45%” in this age group.
Encouraging awareness on dental health for healthy living, Dr. Nicky also asked the surgeons not to be dependent on government for employment but to open private clinics saying government jobs has become over saturated.
Further, the minister also extended support to the association as it prepares to host 2017 North East dental conference in Nagaland. He also extended support to the association’s demand for creation of more post for dental surgeons in the government sector.
Delivering a “status of dental surgeons in the state”, additional director DHF &W, Dr. N Savino said that out of 130 qualified dental surgeons in Nagaland only 48 dental surgeons are working in government sector and 82 plus are unemployed.
He said that unemployment of dental surgeon was due to less opportunity or provision to employ and added there should be equal opportunity of employment for both BDS and MBBS.
Underlining some concerns of unemployed dental surgeons, Dr. N Savino said there was no provision to depute to NHM/NSACS, no provision to accommodate as program officer, no provision for promotion to higher status at directorate and no provision to promote senior dental surgeon at district level.
On behalf of the dental surgeons, Dr. N Savino also requested for creation of director (dental) post at directorate, creation of district dental officer at district equivalent to CMO, junior dental surgeon post in the remaining CHCs as per provision (IPHS), dental post in every police battalion, short term training course for in- service dental surgeon and expansion of the unit/department.
Delivering presidential address, IDANSB president Dr. Temjennungsang said that the association emphasis on the promotion of oral health literacy and development and upgrading of clinician’s skill and knowledge through continuing dental education.
He informed that Nagaland has become one of the first tobacco free dental clinic state in India. Dr. Temjennungsang lamented that Nagaland is the second highest consumer of tobacco in Inida.
Dr. Temjennungsang said only about a quarter of needed oral care was provided every year in Nagaland as 71% of the population live in rural areas where they are left without any oral health care service.
He said that dental surgeons in Nagaland, only 30 dentists are practicing as a regular state service in DH and CHC, three in directorate and 17 in NRHM on contractual basis and the rest are practicing in private clinic in urban areas.
At such state, he questioned who would deliver oral health services to the villagers in the rural areas and informed that the association had already submitted proposal to the principal director H &FW for up-gradation of post for the level of deputy director and above for dental cadres as per the Nagaland health service rule 2006.
He pointed out that there is no provision for promotional avenues for dental surgeons above the level of additional director and the service rule suppressed the dental surgeons by note-II page 22, which described that dental surgeons as not eligible for further promotion.
Dr. Temjennungsang then said that IDANSB view the clause as discriminatory to the man-power professional of dentistry working under the department of H&FW.
Earlier, the gathering was enthralled through special number by Dr. S Meyisenla Angh and instrumental piece by Dr. Neiphrezo Sorünuo. The programme was chaired by joint director DHF&W, Dr. Hotokhu Chishi and vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Nichükholie Vüprü.
The inaugural programme was followed by business hour and valedictory session. On the first day of the conference and AGM which started on October 15, the speakers were Dr. Roshni Chattopadhyay and Dr. Nungotso Vero.
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