Oral health campaign launched to promote preventive care among primary school students

An oral health campaign aiming to raise awareness on the importance of having a healthy and a strong oral health among primary school students, was launched this morning in presence of the Minister of Health and Wellness, Mr Anil Kumar Bachoo, at the Shri Rajiv Gandhi Govt School, Riche Mare in Flacq to mark World Oral Health Day observed each year on 20 March.

Also present at the event were Members of the National Assembly, Messrs Raviraj Sinha Beechook and Chandraprakash Ramkalawon as well as the World Health Organization Representative in Mauritius, Dr Abdou Salam Gueye. The theme chosen for this year is “A Happy Mouth is a Happy Life.”

On this occasion, students who excelled in the Primary School Achievement Certificate examinations 2025 and participated in a poster competition, were also awarded prizes.

In his address, Minister Bachoo underlined that oral health is intrinsically linked to overall health, confidence and quality life. He highlighted that in Mauritius, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), including oral diseases, account for approximately 80% of the total disease burden. Some 43.4% of children aged one to nine years suffer from dental caries in their primary teeth while 11.4% aged 15 years and above are affected by severe periodontal diseases.

He pointed out that oral diseases remain a significant public health concern, adding that public dental services recorded over 225,000 attendances within a single year. This, he said, underscores the high demand for dental care services and the critical importance of preventive measures.

Minister Bachoo also cautioned against high risks factors that adversely affect oral health and contribute to other NCDs such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. These include high sugar consumption, smoking, and unhealthy lifestyle habits. He stressed that most oral health diseases are preventable highlighting the importance of adopting good oral hygiene practices from an early age.

He further reassured that Government is committed to strengthening dental and oral healthcare services, with plans to expand the department and provide a wider range of treatments across public hospitals.

For his part, Mr Gueye recalled that oral health is an essential component of human dignity, well-being, and overall quality of life. He commended the efforts of Mauritius for advancing the global oral health action plan and charting a path for universal health caucus by 2030. According to him, Mauritius has shown its leadership by implementing its national action plan for oral health focusing on prevention, integrating on primary health care and public awareness.

01 April 2026

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Topics: Health