Content of training
At present, there are no structural oral health promotion pro-
grammes in Nepal, while existing promotional campaigns are
usually inappropriately designed to reach the poor living in
remote areas. The objective of this 1-day training was to pro-
vide rural women with sufficient knowledge and skills to rec-
ognize basic oral health problems and to perform basic oral
health promotion activities. The training of rural women is part
of a 5-year collaborative project from the Buddhi Bangara
Foundation Netherlands (BBFN). The BBFN cooperates with
the Navjoti centre and Kantipur School of Dentistry (KSD)
and (until 2009) InHolland University of Applied Sciences
(INH). A dental hygienist teaches the rural women, together
with dental hygiene students from KSD and INH. Dental
hygiene instructors and students from KSD are actively
involved in providing the training, which encourages their
active involvement in the planning, implementation and evalu-
ation of the programme. Sustainability of the programme is
guaranteed. Kantipur School of Dentistry will continue con-
ducting the programme after the BBP is finished.
The oral health promotion training consists of a 4-h theoreti-
cal training in small groups (one tutor and six women) and 4 h
of practical training. Subjects taught are plaque, development
and factors influencing caries, gingivitis, periodontitis, halitosis
and oral hygiene techniques. Special emphasis is put on the
use and effects of fluoride toothpaste. The systemic link
between periodontal disease and general health is explained
and specific attention is paid to oral cancer, as data reveal that
oral cancer is the most common form of cancer in men in
Nepal (11).
The course is very practical and aims to teach the rural
women the basic skills that is needed to provide information
about the development of oral health problems, prevention of
oral diseases (advocates of fluoride use) and to recognize the
presence of plaque, inflamed gums and caries. Part of the
training of the women is a thorough oral examination, followed
by the appropriate dental hygiene treatment by a dental
hygienist.
After completion of the course, the participants received a
certificate of attendance and, since 2007, an ‘ID card’.