PM Thomas reaffirms commitment to improving national healthcare

St. George’s, March 2, 2011 (GIS) – Prime Minister Hon. Tillman Thomas has given his government’s commitment to ongoing support to a dental programme aimed at benefitting 26,000 children nationwide.

“It is a programme we’ll like to see continue and whatever support we could give, we want to give it,’’ the Prime Minister commented while visiting the group of dentists and other dental professionals administering the programme titled “Smile Grenada.’’

The “Smile Grenada’’ National School Dental Health project is a programme of the Ministry of Health. It is supported by the Ministry of Education, as part of a new primary healthcare initiative of government.

The programme started more than a week ago with the arrival of team of dental experts from the School of Dentistry at the New York University, including Vice Dean for International Initiatives and Development, Dr. Stuart Hirsch.

The team has visited over 50 schools and provided free services, such as cleaning, filling and oral surgery, to more than 7,000 Grenadians, including residents of Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

Prime Minister Thomas visited team members last Sunday at the Tivoli Medical Centre, where services are offered daily, Monday through Friday, until 4 p.m.

The dental project, the Prime Minister said, fits “quite nicely with our programme for health improvement in Grenada.’’

Mr. Thomas noted that the provision of good healthcare was a promise of the ruling National Democratic Congress in its campaign during the 2008 general election that was won by the party.

“If you go to our manifesto, you will see it,’’ he said. “It is something we are really proud of and we want to give whatever support we could to maintain and sustain the program. Oral health is really important and we want our young people to be healthy.’’

“Smile Grenada’’ is endorsed by Colgate and G.C. America, as well as Henry Schein Global Dental Outreach.

It is said to be the most comprehensive national dental care assessment and treatment programme ever undertaken in Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

Among the goals of the project are increasing oral health care awareness and access to care in the nation; developing a sustainable preventive programme; and implementing preventive measures to drastically reduce new tooth decay over a three-year period.