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UTech students to get dental training boost

Published:Saturday | October 20, 2012 | 12:00 AM
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Grade-three students at John Rollins Success Primary School watch as a volunteer from the Great Shape! Inc oral hygiene educational team demonstrates the correct way to brush teeth.
Students at the John Rollins/Success Primary school in St James interact with Elmo during a Sandals Foundation/Great Shape! Inc sponsored Oral health education session at the school. -Contributed photos
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Western Bureau:Students from the University of Technology School of Oral Health Science will get an opportunity to work alongside internationally certified dental professionals as the Sandals Foundation seeks to expand its partnership in community and education.

The move by Sandals Foundation is in celebration of Great Shape! Inc's 10th anniversary.

Five dental hygiene students and five third-year dental students - qualified to provide clinical services such as cleanings and extractions - will work alongside dental professionals at the 1000 Smiles Dental clinics.

Executive Director for Great Shape! Inc., Joseph Wright outlined that this move is expected to add a new dimension to the project and will have positive implications for Jamaica's future dental professionals.

Among the primary issues facing Jamaicans in need of oral care is access to a substantial network of trained dental professionals.

QUALITY PROFESSIONALS

"By incorporating students from the university, Great Shape! Inc and the Sandals Foundation will be playing their part by helping to train these students and by extension assisting in ensuring that Jamaica has quality dental professionals who can provide the highest level of service for its people," Wright outlined.

The 1000 Smiles Dental project is the world's largest international humanitarian dental project. In addition to the St James clinics, this year, the project will also benefit residents in Hanover, St Ann and Westmoreland. Clinics will run from October 15-26 at the Barrett Town United Church, the Maroon Town Health Clinic and the Mafoota Town Community Centre. Each clinic will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday

"Participation in the 1000 Smiles Dental project will be very beneficial to our students from the University of Technology," said Dr Irving McKenzie, chief dental officer for Jamaica. He lauded the programme for providing local students the opportunity to interact with their international colleagues as well as stimulate a spirit of volunteerism and giving back.

Dr McKenzie also noted that, "what the Sandals Foundation is doing is massive and it is on this basis that the Caribbean Institute for Strategic Planning and Research in Oral Health will be presenting an award of appreciation to the Sandals Foundation for its years of service particularly in the area of oral health."

Great Shape! Inc also conducts two other projects in Jamaica - the iCare Vision project and the SuperKids Literacy project - in partnership with the Sandals Foundation.