National 9 (Spotlight Weekly)

Growing Threat

A large number of villagers face a new health hazard

By NIRAJ POUDYAL

Hari Narayan Chaudhary, a resident of Sarlahi district, came to Kathmandu with his wife last week to treat his teeth damaged by tobacco. His teeth and mouth already infected by cancer, Chaudhary has been in deep pain for the last two years. Unable to bear it any longer, he decided to consult a dentist in capital.

About 65 percent of Nepalís population is suffering from oral diseases. Some 50 percent of the total adult population are gripped by the affliction. Moreover, 20 percent of total cancer cases are related to oral cancer. This data shows the need for more serious concern on the prevention and cure of oral diseases.

Thanks to the initiative by Nepal Lever Ltd, the Nepal Dental Association (NDA) is launching a nation-wide campaign against oral health problems. The NDA will establish dental camps outside Kathmandu valley.

In South Asia, Nepal has the third highest number of oral health patients, according to an NDA study. The number of tobacco chewers has increased sharply over the years. Out of six oral patients, five are male. This reveals the spreading use of tobacco by men. Rising number of children fond of sweets and chocolates has also added to the growth of oral diseases. According to a study conducted in 1994/95, 2,000 new patients with oral diseases appear every year, of which 500 people die of oral cancer.

"Oral disease is growing as a deadly health problem in Nepal," said Dr. Neil Pandey, general secretary of the NDA. "The NDA is a professional organization for Nepalese dentists." He was addressing a press meeting organized to inform about the activities of the NDA. "At a time when Nepal is facing such a big problem in dental health care, there are not more than 200 dentists available in the country," he said. Of greater concern is the fact that 85 percent of these doctors are in the valley, although the diseases are more widespread outside the capital.

Studies have shown that brushing the teeth twice a day would dramatically reduce such diseases. Along with producing a varieties of toothpaste, Nepal Lever has been supporting many welfare programs.

There are three dental colleges in Nepal which are going to produce more than 100 dentists within three years. About 60 to 70 Nepalese students will return from studies abroad. This has added a bit of hope among patients. But this is not enough.

"We are working with private companies like Nepal Lever Limited to improve oral education for people, specially children, because experience suggests that children can spread the knowledge quicker and wider than other," said Dr. Prabin Mishra, president of the NDA. "There should be a clear and fixed direction in oral health sector. We are working with the government to form a separate Nepal Dental Council. We have already drafted a dental council act. Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful to pass the draft through parliament this year," he admitted. He said there should be an oral health policy concentrating on providing basic oral health care for the poor people at village level.

"The oral health policy is in its final stage," said Dr. Mishra. "The NDA's activities focus on up-to-date knowledge and recent innovations in dental care sector," he said. The NDA organized a daylong free dental checking program in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Biratnagar and Janakpur last week. A weeklong program was also organized to teach students effective methods of brushing.

"Dental health care is expensive because of the expensive equipment and the complex procedure it requires. The only way to get rid of the problem is to give emphasis on preventive measures rather than curative measures," said Dr. Pandey. "We have forgotten our ancestors' ways of living. We feel ashamed to wash our mouth after eating. We eat a slow poison like tobacco. If we check these weaknesses we can improve our oral health sufficiently." Handy tips to avoid the kind of pain Chaudhary is confronting.