Background – Cameroon has only 150 dentists for a population of over 16 million people, being a ratio of less than one dentist to 100,000 population. While little oral health data is available, with these statistics it is clear that the majority of the population when experiencing oral health conditions will never see a dental professional, instead relying on DIY or “street dentistry”, provided by untrained practitioners, usually with no anaesthetic but more seriously inadequate cross infection control, risking the spread of life threatening diseases. 
 

The Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Board (CBCHB) is one the leading healthcare providers in the country, operating 2 hospitals, 29 health centres and 40 primary health centres across Cameroon. In 2003, Dentaid provided a dental surgery to establish a dental treatment centre at one of their sites called Banso Hospital. - This was highly successful and in early 2007, Dentaid engineers helped install a further 8 surgeries to CBCHB centres, including providing on-site training to dental staff and hospital technicians to service and maintain the equipment. CBCHB now employs 21 dental staff across its centres. Having helped establish these treatment centres as hubs of dental activity, Dentaid have now been invited to assist CBCHB develop and implement a comprehensive oral health strategy for their organisation, integrating clinical services with community oral health activities.

Brief Description – To assist/advise CBCHB in developing a community oral health programme alongside their clinical programmes. To identify further training needs. As part of the initial visits, training CBCHB dental (and other) staff to practice good cross infection control, and to administer ART (Atraumatic Restorative Technique) treatments in community settings.

Area of activity/(Partner Organisations) – Cameroon (Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Board - CBCHB)

Strategic Partners & Consultants – Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Board (CBCHB).  

Anticipated Outcomes –

• All CBCHB dental staff trained in and practicing good cross infection control.
• All CBCHB dental clinics having infection control protocols, guidelines and monitoring systems.
• All dental staff providing quality ART treatments both in clinical and community settings.
• The development and implementation of a comprehensive community oral health plan to be implemented by CBCHB across Cameroon.
• A model of community oral health, which can be replicated elsewhere in Africa.