State Oral Health

NATIONAL ORAL HEALTH PROGRAMME (NOHP)

1.INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND

‘Oral Health’ is an integral part of general health. With increasing life expectancy Oral Health is bound to play a major role in improving the quality of life. The prevalence of oral diseases, such as Dental caries, Periodontitis (diseases of the gum), Mal-occlusion and Oral cancer, are very high in Mizoram. Mal-occlusion of teeth is common among 50% of school children. Oral Cancer accounts for almost 40% of the total diagnosed cancer cases and the wide usage of tobacco in various forms attributes to 90% of all oral cancers. Dental caries and Periodontitis are very common in all groups of ages.

‘Oral Health’ means being free of Chronic mouth and facial pain, oral and throat cancer, oral sores, birth defects such as cleft lip and cleft palate, periodontal (gum) diseases, tooth decay and tooth loss and other diseases and disorders that effect the mouth and oral cavity.

Oral Health Programme has never been implemented in the state before but started from 2014-2015. It used to be the most neglected part of all Health & Family Welfare Department activities. It is estimated that nearly 90% of the state’s population is suffering from one or the other dental disease. And it is noticed that this alarming rise in dental diseases is mainly due to the lack of awareness among the people and the almost non – existence infrastructure of the Oral Health Care Services in the State.

Civil Hospital, Aizawl is the oldest Hospital in the State of Mizoram. It was established at the time of the British rule in India. At present, Civil Hospital Aizawl is a 300 bedded Hospital. The Hospital delivers various clinical and para-clinical services to the people not only of Aizawl, but to the whole population of the State as Civil Hospital, Aizawl is functioning as a referral centre from other Districts.

The Dental Outdoor Patient Department (OPD) started functioning since 1975 with the then two working doctors – Dr. Sharma & Dr.Sinha. In 1979 the first Bachelor of Dental surgery (BDS) among the Mizos, Dr.Lalzarliana Ralte (L) had replaced them.

Civil Hospital, Aizawl has been certified as ISO 9001: 2008 on December, 2010 vide Certified NO. IRQS/1011025 from Indian Register Quality system.

Aims and objectives of the Programme 

Oral Health is an integral part of general health. With increasing life expectancy Oral Health is bound to play a major role in improving the quality of life. The Prevalence of oral diseases, such as Dental Caries, Periodontitis (diseases of the gum), Mal-occusion and Oral cancer are high in Mizoram.

Taking into account the oral health situation in the country, Government of India has initiated a National Oral Health Programme to provide integrated, comprehensive oral health care in the existing health care facilities with the following objectives:

• To improve the determinants of oral health.
• To reduce morbidity from oral diseases.
• To integrate oral health promotion and preventive services with general health care system.
• To encourage Promotion of Public Private Partnership (PPP) model for achieving better oral health.

The programme had been started with the functioning of 2(two) NOHP Centres: 1) Darlawn PHC of Aizawl East District and 2) Lungdai PHC of Kolasib District since 2015 and another 1(one) NOHP Centre Chawngte CHC of Lawngtlai District had been added since 2016, thus making a total of 3(three) NOHP Centres functioning in the 3(three) Districts of state, out of the 9(nine) districts. The intended benefit of the programme is being availed by the needy patients of the three centres along with the neighbouring villages.

1.Primary Health Centre, Darlawn, Aizawl East District

2.Primary Health Centre Lungdai, Kolasib District

3.Community Health Centre, Chawngte, Lawngtlai District

Each NOHP Centre had been equipped and staffed with 3(three) staff, and the team of the staff consists of:

• Dental Surgeon
• Dental Hygienist
• Dental Assistant

ACHIEVEMENT DURING 2023-24

1. Supervisory visit to           -            

Civil Hospital Lunglei, Thingsulthliah CHC, District Hospital Saitual , Kawnpui

PHC, Lungdai PHC, District Hospital Champhai, District Hospital Khawzawl, Ngopa CHC, Biate CHC.

1. Oral Health Camp &     Oral Cancer Screening   

Tlabung SDH, Biate CHC, Sakawrdai CHC, Kawrthah CHC, 

1. Capacity Building              -           

Training of Dental Surgeon Under NHM on 26^th -27^th     September 2023 , Training of all Dental Surgeons Under  State and Training of Dental Hygienists Under NHM on 21^st February 2024.

1.   IEC/BCC                                     -           
   • Observation of World Oral Health Day on 20^th March2023.
   • News paper Advertisement on Oral Health Awareness – March 2024
   • Distribution of Oral Health Awareness Leaflets.

1.  Printing                                         -          
    Posters and Booklets - Ongoing ( Fund not yet received)          

1. Procurement and Distribution 

     of Dental Equipments 

     and Consumables.                          -          Completed

Performance of All Dental Units During 2023 to 2024

Achievement during 2022-23

From 2023 National Oral Health Programme had been implemented at 6 Centres

Namely:

1. Lunglei Civil Hospital (Lunglei District)
2. Community Health centre, Sakawrdai (Aizawl District)
3. Community Health centre, Vairengte ( Kolasib District)
4. Sub District Hospital , Tlabung (Lunglei District)
5. Community Health centre, Thenzawl (Serchhip District)
6. District Hospital, Siaha (Siaha District)

Implementation :

• The intended benefit of the programme is  being availed by the needy patients of the three centres along with the neighbouring villages
• Oral Health Camp and Oral Cancer Screening have been organized in several villages for awareness and to promote oral hygeine in the general public.
• Awareness campaign regarding oral health and personal hygiene had been conducted successfully for selected schools such as Govt Primary School Kepran, Govt Middle School Nisapui and Presbyterian English school Zehtet.
• World Oral Health Day, 20^th March is observed and organized successfully every year.

Performance and achievements: April 2022-March, 2023