Method:A retrospective study was done of all the communities visited by our organization in APRIL 2006 till date.
Results:In all a total of 12 communities, 11 communities in the South – South, South-East, South- West and 1 in the northern zone.
Nembe,Brass Bayelsa State
Mbosimo,Oguta Imo State
Owaza,Okeikpe Abia State
Odukpani,Akpabuyo Cross- River State
Fugar,Uromi Edo State
Ajowa Akoko Ondo State
Jengre Plateau State
In all the communities visited there was no dental clinic attached to the facility used by our team, and we had to set up the dental clinic in these places. Meanwhile, there were facilities for Consulting, Operating Theatre, and Pharmacy. This shows that dental care was not taken into consideration when the hospitals were established.
Moreover, it was also noted that in most communities visited there was no dental center readily available, some will have to travel by water or take a journey of at least 1 hour to get to the nearest government dental facility. It was only in Edo State that a dental facility was available in the community where our project was carried out.
CONCLUSION: 1.There will be a need to incorporate Dental clinics into the plan when establishing Health care centers in the rural communities. 2.Oral health care should be seen as part of holistic care.