PRE-DEGREE/CERTIFICATE REGISTRATION/SCHOOL FEES
Dentistry Marks Day with Lectures, Free Oral Health Screening
- Details
- Published: 11 February 2014
By Humphrey Ogu
As part of efforts aimed at updating Dentists for improved healthcare delivery and also sensitize the public on the need to prevent dental diseases, the Faculty of Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, has marked its first Dentistry Day.
The event, which kicked off on Thursday 24th January, 2014 with a free oral health screening around the University Campus, climaxed penultimate Friday with lectures delivered by international scholars.
Welcoming guests to the opening ceremony, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Joseph Ajienka, expressed joy that two notable scholars, Professor Carla A. Evans of the School of Dentistry, University of Illinois Chicago, USA and Professor Kalu Ogbureke of the Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences, Health Science Centre, University of Texas, Houston, USA, were on hand to deliver lectures at the event, commending the Faculty of Dentistry for organising the programme.
In her Keynote Lecture entitled: “Interdisciplinary Dentistry in the 21st Century”, Professor Evans stressed the importance of electronic health records to ensure effective healthcare delivery, noting that medical practice in the 21st century thrives on information and communication technology.
Delivering another lecture entitled: “Forensic Dentistry: Art Identification & the Legal System”, Professor Ogbureke, who is a Visiting Professor to the Department of Oral Pathology and Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, highlighted the procedures for tackling forensic investigation of crimes, stating that dental and DNA evidence are of critical importance.
The event also featured Continuing Medical Education lectures for the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria(MDCAN) delivered by Dr Ibi Erekosima of the Royal College of Physicians, Manchester, United Kingdom, and Professor Dennis A. Evans of Rush University, Chicago, USA.
Speaking with UniPort Weekly on the free oral health screening, Dean, Faculty of Dentistry, Professor Chukwudi Onyeaso, said: “The idea of the screening is to create more awareness about dental care in the community, encourage members of the community to embrace preventive approaches to oral and dental diseases, access dental care available at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) and also stimulate processes that will enhance the growth of the Faculty.”
Recalling that the Faculty held a free oral health screening at UPTH last year, Onyeaso said the Faculty deemed it fit to take the screening to the community because businessmen and women find it difficult to leave their businesses to benefit from the screening. Also speaking, a Lecturer in the Department of Preventive Dentistry, Dr Nzube Ilochonwu, corroborated the views raised by the Dean.
Major highlights of the event were the presentation of awards to deserving staff and distinguished persons in society, including the immediate past and Vice-Chancellors Emeritus Professor Nimi Briggs, Professor Don Baridam and the incumbent, Professors Joseph Ajienka, as well as Deputy Vice-Chancellors and all others, who contributed to the building and development of the Faculty of Dentistry.
Other dignitaries, who received plaques of recognition included Professor Dennis A. Evans, his wife and Keynote Speaker, Professor Carla Evans, Professor Ogbureke, and Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, who was represented by Barr Ahamdi Nweke.
