Labourers in Dubai are receiving free dental check-ups as part of an initiative to check for signs of tooth decay and mouth cancer.
The UAE’s official state news agency WAM reported that Saif bin Markhan Al Ketbi, director-general of the Office of the Crown Prince of Dubai, launched the ‘Oral Hygiene Drive’ for blue collar workers, which aims to raise health awareness and provide labourers with oral treatment.
“This humanitarian health initiative is aimed at spreading health awareness and conducting oral health surveys in order to provide necessary treatments and carry out surgeries for the workers,” Al Ketbi said.
“Since the oral and dental treatment is highly expensive, the Oral Hygiene Initiative to support the workers is expected to meet the urgent needs of low income category of workers. Also, the lack of health education makes them more vulnerable to mouth and teeth health problems. For this reason, we expect to achieve a big target related to workers’ oral health,” he added.
The two-year campaign will target all workers and “is aimed at expressing our gratitude to workers who contribute to the process of Dubai Renaissance,” he said.
All costs of the survey tests, and subsequent treatments, will be covered by HH Sheikh Hamdan
Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai. The first phase hopes to treat more than 2,000 by the end of this year.
“Dubai Dental Clinic at Hamdan bin Mohammed College of Dental Medicine will conduct tests and surveys and identify the necessary non-cosmetic treatments required for workers,” Al Ketbi said.
“The clinic will be organising educational campaigns and field visits to target groups and then examine health problems of workers. The next step is to refer people who need treatment to the college clinics to provide therapeutic services,” he added.
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