Africa faces a chronic shortage of oral health workers, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned, stating that the problem is leaving millions of people without adequate care and vulnerable to preventable oral diseases
The WHO fact sheet Wednesday stated that Africa has been experiencing the highest increased number of cases of oral diseases like dental caries, gum diseases, and tooth loss over the last three decades across all WHO regions.
In 2021, around 42 percent of the population in the African region suffered from untreated oral diseases. This is compounded by a chronic shortage of health workers to address disease burden.
It said between 2014 and 2019, the number of dentists and the number of oral health workers, including dentists, dental assistants/therapists and dental prosthetists per 10 000 population in the Region was one tenth and one sixth of the global ratio, respectively.
In 2022, the region had only about 57 000 oral health professionals, representing a mere 1.11 percent of the total health workforce in the region and a ratio of 0.37 professionals per 10,000 people.
This figure falls far below the 1.33 oral health workers per 10 000 (158 916 total; 83 099 dentists and 75 817 dental assistants and therapists) needed in 2022 to achieve basic universal health coverage targets.
According to WHO, this deficit exposes millions to preventable suffering and highlights a critical breakdown in oral health workforce. It also reveals the need for about 199 170 oral health workers (1.37 per 10 000 population) including 103 858 dentists and 95 312 dental health assistants and therapists by 2030.
Oral health remains a low priority in many African countries, leading to inadequate financial and technical investment. Moreover, oral health has historically been treated as separate from general health and the broader health care system.
“Africa cannot afford to neglect oral health. Neglect has severe, lasting consequences for overall well-being,” said Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Acting WHO Regional Director for Africa.
“It’s crucial for countries to do more to increase health workforce, access to affordable prevention and care services and ensure that people are equipped with the knowledge and skill on promoting oral health.”
MG/as/APA