WHO emphasizes prioritizing oral health for better outcome

ON the occasion of World Oral Health Day, Regional Director for WHO South-East Asia, Saima Wazed brought attention towards the need for prioritizing oral health to tackle diseases and bring about positive health outcomes in South-East Asia.
“World Oral Health Day, marked annually on 20 March, draws attention to oral health being a key indicator of overall health, well-being and quality of life.
Oral diseases are among the most common noncommunicable diseases worldwide, affecting an estimated 3.5 billion people,” Wazed said.
She noted that the World Health Organization is calling on the countries of the South-East Asia Region and partners for accelerated action, reiterating the commitments of the Bangkok Declaration “No Health Without Oral Health”, adopted at the WHO Global Oral Health Meeting in November 2024. She noted that oral diseases and conditions cause physical symptoms, functional limitations, and a detrimental impact on emotional, mental and social well-being. Among the six WHO regions, South-East Asia reports the highest number — approximately 900 million cases of oral diseases and conditions — reflecting the region’s large population. Our region also has the highest burden of oral cancer among all WHO regions. — ANI

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar