College of the North Atlantic-Qatar (CNA-Q) took part in the 4th GCC Oral Health week that was held in the last week of March to enhance the profile of dental health in Qatar, held under the aegis of the Supreme Council of Health ( SCH).
Throughout the halls of CNA-Q, colourful and informative tables promoted ‘Dental Health and Beauty’, the theme of this year’s event. Hosted by Level II dental assisting students of the college,  the event was launched by CNA-Q president Ken MacLeod.
“The School of Health Sciences is committed to initiatives that promote health and wellness in the community and today’s event is no exception,” said Dr MacLeod as he welcomed visitors to the campus. “These dental table clinics are an important part of the Dental Assistant Level II programme and integral to CNA-Q’s commitment to community outreach. Those who visit the clinics learn best practices in oral healthcare while our students gain confidence from sharing their knowledge and skills.”
According to  the SCH Oral Health Unit supervisor Dr Abdulla Asad al- Emadi, who was the  guest speaker on the occasion, the  event aligns with the unified GCC oral health plan issued in 2008 by the GCC Oral Health Committee.
“This plan aims to raise the health awareness among the public and to strengthen the dental and oral health. It also aims to develop a unified gulf model to combat oral diseases in general and teeth decay in particular,” said Dr al-Emadi.
The relationship between SCH and CNA-Q’s School of Health Sciences has been ongoing during the college’s 10-year presence in Qatar. The Primary Healthcare Corporation currently employs 108 dentists and dental assistants and it is expected that the demand for highly skilled oral healthcare practitioners will continue to increase as Qatar’s population grows.