Dental News - FDI calls for oral disease to be included in UN NCD list

Dental Tribune International

Fri. 15 July 2011

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NEW YORK, N.Y., USA: The World Dental Federation (FDI) has called for oral disease to be included in the list of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) for priority action within the UN and WHO. At a civil society hearing on NCDs held at the UN headquarters in New York, FDI Executive Director Jean-Luc Eiselé recently explained that the current list—which comprises only cancer, diabetes, and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases—should be extended.

According to the FDI, all oral conditions share common risk factors with the other four major NCDs, including unhealthy diet (particularly high sugar consumption), tobacco, and harmful alcohol use. Oral-health professionals should be an integral part of the solution for prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment.

Eiselé made the call during a submission on behalf of the World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA) campaign on NCDs, launched in May in advance of the 64th World Health Assembly, warning of the global epidemic of NCDs.

His remarks were echoed later that day during the “National and local solutions for NCD control and prevention” panel discussion by an intervention from the floor from Dr Habib Benzian, Director of the Fit for School international NGO. He reminded panelists that, “The most common disease worldwide is dental caries, tooth decay. It has large impact on societies, on children, on each and every one of us. Don’t forget oral diseases in the context of NCDs.”

The WHPA submission included recommendations on adopting an holistic approach to NCDs, paying due attention to common risk factors and the social determinants of health, as well as recognizing and promoting investment in the recognition of and investment in the healthcare workforce.

In the submission, Dr Eiselé stressed the key role that health professionals play in reducing the global NCD burden through health promotion, disease prevention, patient care and rehabilitation, and added that, “The WHPA views access to health care as a human right, whether diseases are communicable or noncommunicable, acute or chronic.”

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