|
|
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE |
|
Year : 2022 | Volume
: 20
| Issue : 1 | Page : 1 |
|
President's Message
Sabyasachi Saha
President, Indian Association of Public Health Dentistry, India
Date of Submission | 17-Feb-2022 |
Date of Acceptance | 17-Feb-2022 |
Date of Web Publication | 25-Feb-2022 |
Correspondence Address: Sabyasachi Saha President, Indian Association of Public Health Dentistry India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/jiaphd.jiaphd_41_22
How to cite this article: Saha S. President's Message. J Indian Assoc Public Health Dent 2022;20:1 |
“None of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful.”
Mother Teresa
Greetings and welcome to the first issue of Journal of Indian Association of Public health Dentistry 2022. Public health Dentistry forms the foundation of oral health care in any community bridging the health-care system gap. It is, therefore, my pleasure to address readers of this esteemed Journal. Dr. Sowmya, our very competent editor, has ensured strict adherence to the quality of researches published. I take this opportunity to congratulate the Office bearers and look forward to innovative researches which shift the needle of knowledge.
Looking back the memory lane, I recall the era of Public health Dentistry when the struggles of its recognition as a subject of significance were never realized. From its nascent stage to bringing about the Policy reforms, the Association has come a long way since its inception. It has kept its focus on Public Health aspects of Oral Health and has played a crucial role in dental public health research, tackling vulnerable populations with community outreach programs and contributed in immense national knowledge.
The last 2 years have been very tough for all of us, as the COVID-19 pandemic spread its wings and impacted us through all lines. It has taught us that “It is better to be prepared.” As we enter the 3rd-year postpandemic; we are now better prepared and organized to deal with newer Public Health threats. The nation is moving forward from strength to strength with the vaccination program crossing 170 Crore population being administered a single dose. The Public health initiative has reinforced the need to reinvigorate policymakers to the people that prevention is better than cure. As we regain strength and move toward normalcy, I call upon all my fellow Dental Public Health Professionals to regain the lost momentum. It is imperative that we advocate and implement COVID-19 appropriate behavior to ensure safe, healthy, and confident comeback.
We must appreciate the lessons learned from the pandemic that learning is an ongoing process and necessity leads to invention. The use of Virtual learning platform emphasized that we need to be abreast with the ever-changing technology and make it an advisory through such times.
The huge oral disease burden is still a major cause of anxiety, especially in our country. During the recent WHO General Assembly, a landmark resolution on oral health calling for a global strategy, action plan, targets for 2030, and best buys for oral health received unanimous support. Major oral diseases and noncommunicable diseases are closely linked and share common risk factors such as unhealthy diet, poor nutrition, and use of tobacco and harmful consumption of alcohol. Intervention against oral diseases and noncommunicable diseases must therefore be an integrated approach.
Hence, I call upon each one of you to join forces and align with the World Health Organization, Declaration of Astana in 2018 and work toward prioritizing, promoting, and protecting people's oral health and general well-being, at population and individual levels, through strong health systems by partnering with stakeholders aligning to providing effective support to national oral health policies, evidence-based strategies, and action plans.
“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.”
Let's all pledge to take our association forward.
Jai Hind
|