Why a Multi-Stakeholder Approach Is Key to Making Oral Health a National Priority

Opinion;

Author: Victoria Macharia

A look at oral health reports from Kenya reveals statistics that show the need for collective action from a wide range of stakeholders to drive the oral health agendas foward. These include the government, private sector, professional associations and communities. If we are to address oral health issues sustainably, these stakeholders need to work together.

For instance, in 2015, Mars Wrigley Kenya sponsored the country’s first National Oral Health Survey. The Ministry of Health (MoH) in partnership with the University of Nairobi (UoN) led the study. There was also support from other institutions such as KEMRI (Kenya Medical Research Institute) and WHO (World Health Organization).

The survey provided the most comprehensive baseline data on oral health in Kenya. The findings helped in highlighting the scale of dental disease and consequently, the shaping of national strategies for prevention and treatment.

Why should this be of significant concern, worthy of elevating oral health to a national, priority agenda? It is really simple: Good oral health instills in people much more than just a beautiful smile. It leads to higher self-confidence and overall well-being. It starts with early interventions to avoid more complex and, of course, costlier treatments later. And it gets better–simple habits such as regular brushing, flossing, and even chewing sugar-free gum among other positive actions can all go a long way in achieving better oral health.

To give credit where it is due, Kenya has made great strides under the Vision 2030 health policy. The same applies to the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda. However, oral health needs to have more visibility in the same way other health priorities do. This presents a fantastic opportunity for other players to step in and lend a hand in strengthening the existing strategies. This push will help in making oral health a national conversation issue and topic. It also creates room for innovation, outreach, collaborations and sustainable partnerships.

We can already see the impact of such collaborations or partnerships. For instance, the Kenya Dental Association (KDA) in partnership with Mars Wrigley has delivered tangible results. In 2023, over 1,000 Lamu residents in Faza, Mpeketoni, Shela and Shungwaya received free dental services. The same happened during this year’s World Oral Health (WHO) day, when over 3,500 people across Narok, Makueni, and Nairobi Counties benefited from the collaboration.  

These are just examples of how public-private collaborations or partnerships (PPPs) can help in driving real change. Opportunities are plentiful including in awareness campaigns, product innovations, school outreach or even funding for community programs. The combined impact would be transformative. Such collective engagements would expand access to preventive care. Beyond this it would help to normalize conversations around oral health everywhere. Think  about classrooms, households, workplaces, policy tables and so much more.

Tackling oral health issues in Kenya needs a paradigm shift. It should no longer be just about the dental aspect of it. Rather, it is a larger developmental issue. Time away from class or work due to oral issues has a significant social and economic impact. Untreated oral diseases have ripple effects in that they not only limit livelihoods, but also strain family finances. With the multi-stakeholder approach, resources, networks and expertise can be pooled together to create scalable models. This would make it easier to reach millions of Kenyans, resulting in a healthier, more productive citizenry.

As a country we can build momentum by integrating oral health into the broader health agenda. The same applies to education programs to teach young children oral health importance from an early age. Relevant stakeholders including private companies and professional associations need to give the government a helping hand. And that means complementing the government’s efforts in expanding access, raising awareness and providing preventive care. Such actions will help align oral health with the goals of Vision 2030 and the UHC.

By elevating oral health agenda to national priority status through multi-stakeholder collaborations, our children will thrive in school. There will also be a more productive workforce and less expenditure on preventable oral diseases.

A healthy smile must become a national right (& light), not a privilege for the lucky few.

Victoria Macharia is the Corporate Affairs Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, Mars Wrigley