The Primary Health Care Corporation’s (PHCC) Oral Health Promotion and Prevention Department reached over 60,000 students in Qatar during the last academic year, PHCC said in a statement.

The department led by Dr Najat Alyafei, completed analysing the oral health data for the academic year 2023-24 and released the Asnani School Oral Health Programme Report recently.

The Asnani School Oral Health Programme aims to improve the oral health of kindergarten and primary school students. The programme welcomes students at designated health centres equipped with dedicated oral health rooms and clinics, where they receive guidance, undergo examinations and receive preventive treatments such as fluoride application to reduce tooth decay.

PHCC's preventative health executive director Dr Hamad al-Mudahka stressed the importance of annual oral health education, oral screening and preventive treatment for young children in schools.

Dr Alyafei mentioned that during the academic year 2023-24, as many as 30,214 students from 140 schools participated in Asnani School Oral Health Programme. These included 3,190 students from 52 Kindergartens and 27,024 students from 88 Primary schools. Report shows that prevalence of tooth decay was 70% in kindergarten students and 36% in primary school students.

Asnani School Oral Health Programme aims to improve oral health of students through education and prevention. To prevent tooth decay, evidence-based highly effective treatment of fluoride varnish is provided for the students in the Asnani programme.
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