Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, 10 July 2024 – The Samarahan Division Dental Office, in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, organised a one-day dental service in the faculty’s short case room.
The faculty has been cooperating with the Ministry of Health’s dental services; however, these efforts have primarily taken place as part of a student-led health intervention program in the community. This was the first collaboration conducted within the premises of the faculty and university.
This collaboration was part of the Division’s Dental Office’s oral health campaign trail around the Samarahan Division, with a stop at the university.
In addition to oral hygiene screenings, the dental team offered services such as scaling, tooth extraction, and fillings. Four dentists, assisted by five dental assistants, two dental therapists, a helper, and a driver, served 117 patients over the six-hour period efficiently. The dental activities were held in the short case room, providing the team with ample space for mobile dental suites and a clean, hygienic environment.
The event started at 8:30 AM with an oral health talk at The Atrium. The talk was given by Dr. Ho Sin Yin. Subsequently, the dental services were held until 3:30 in the afternoon. The response was positive, with both staff and students utilising the services. A total of 89 patients had scaling, 12 had fillings, and two had tooth extractions. The remaining 15 clients underwent general checks and did not need further treatment.
Additionally, six vendors were invited to set up their stalls in the atrium to make the event more memorable and interesting. Handmade soaps, lapel pins and brooches, essential oil products, Sarawak coffee, and Gula Apong ice cream were among the items for sale.
The faculty’s student bodies, UNIMED and PGMED, participated in the event by opening booths and selling merchandise, including t-shirts, lanyards, and badges.
Overall, sales were encouraging despite initial uncertainties. The addition of booths added a friendlier atmosphere to the oral health promotion event, as visits to the dentist often evoke feelings of nervousness and unease.
We hope that the joint venture with the Samarahan Division Dental Office will continue as a long-term strategic alliance. Although the faculty focuses on health and medicine, oral health is a crucial component of overall health. Their presence filled a crucial gap, much like fitting a piece into a jigsaw puzzle.
The faculty would like to thank everyone involved in setting up the short case room for the dental team, the Atrium for the vendors, and the stage for the knowledge-sharing session.
Article prepared by the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UNIMAS