The KDA has unveiled its first cohort of 400 Community Health Promoters (CHPs), who have completed training in basic preventive and promotive oral health support. The graduates were issued with certificates during a celebration to mark the World Oral Health Day at the Ndumberi Stadium in Kiambu county.
The celebration, under the 2024 World Oral Health Day Theme ‘A happy mouth is… a happy body’ followed a march from the Kiambu Level 5 hospital and was attended by Hon. Harry Kimtai, the Principal Secretary in the State Department for Medical Services of the Ministry of Health, as well as Ms. Teresia Kariuki, the Director Public Health in the Kiambu county government.
Many other officials from Kiambu, and representatives from KDA, Mars Wrigley, in addition to residents of Kiambu county participated in the celebrations.
The CHP training program, facilitated by KDA with support from sugar-free chewing gum manufacturer Mars Wrigley and other partners, equipped the participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively promote oral health within their respective communities.
Through the training, KDA and Mars Wrigley underscored the importance of building the capacity of CHPs, recognizing the vital role they play in advancing local health initiatives. The new CHPs will support the promotion of better oral health practices within households, and ultimately lead to improved oral health-seeking behavior.
Furthermore, the training has enhanced the referral mechanisms available to communities, in relation to oral health. The graduating CHPs are equipped to identify oral health issues and provide appropriate referrals, ensuring that individuals receive timely and comprehensive care.
Dr. Tim Theuri, President of KDA, expressed his enthusiasm for the accomplishments of the newly graduated CHPS, stating,
“This graduation represents a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to improve oral health outcomes in Kenya. By investing in the capacity of community health promoters, we are strengthening the foundation of oral health awareness and promoting positive behavioral change.”
“Oral health promotion at the community level requires the contribution of such trained individuals as the CHPs graduating today, who will essentially become the first points of contact in the national dental health services network,”
said Mars Wrigley’s Nairobi Plant Director, Vivian Maduray.
KDA and Mars Wrigley continue to partner in advancing oral health care and knowledge across the country. Early March, they ran a week-long dental clinic in Lamu, where over 1,000 people received free dental checkups and treatment.
They also conducted an oral health awareness campaign at the Athi River Upper Primary School, where 800 students in Grades 6 and 7 were shown the best techniques for oral hygiene, and introduced to the oral health benefits of chewing sugar free gum. Mars Wrigley donated packets of its Orbit sugar-free gum and dental kits to all participating students and faculty.
