Oral health care is one of the major neglected areas of health provision in India. This is all the more so in rural India, where 70% of the population live and virtually no care is available. The development and training in safe techniques is essential where lack of precautions, multi-use of needles, etc. is contributing greatly to the spread of HIV/AIDS and other infections. EHA pioneered dental service at the Duncan Hospital, Raxaul, Bihar at the beginning of the 1990's, under the leadership of Drs Mathew and Lata George. Dr. Mathew George, as Coordinator of Dental Services, has initiated a number of innovative dental programmes from the Raxaul base, which now benefit the widening oral health care programme. Human Resource Development - newly appointed dentists undergo a four-month intensive orientation to EHA and its ethos and practice. A resource center has been established to provide Continuing Dental Education (CDE). Annual retreats and study weekends are arranged for all dentists. Recruitment and sponsorship- Whilst EHA recruits throughout India, it enjoys sponsorship facilities at the Dental Faculty College of the Christian Medical College, Ludhiana. Dr. Mathew George regularly visits sponsored students there. COMDENT (Community Dental Services)- growing recognition of the oral health needs in rural areas has led EHA to establish a programme to deliver preventative and curative dental services to large rural communities. This involves the training of community dental workers in the following areas:
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DENTAL SERVICES
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