The Ministry of Health is set to observe World Oral Health Day today, March 20, 2025, at Nduluku Primary and Junior Secondary School in Makueni County.
The event, themed “A Happy Mouth is a Happy Mind,” aims to highlight the importance of oral health and its link to mental health and overall well-being.
In attendance will be Principal Secretary for Medical Services Harry Kimtai, Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior, and Director General for Health Dr. Patrick Amoth, along with other health experts.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), oral diseases such as dental caries, gum disease, and tooth loss affected 42% of Africa’s population in 2021. The region also bears the highest burden of noma cases—a severe gangrenous disease of the mouth that primarily affects young children.
If untreated, noma has a high fatality rate, while survivors often suffer lifelong disfigurement, stigma, and discrimination.
The WHO has integrated oral disease prevention into noncommunicable disease (NCD) control strategies, as they share common risk factors like tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and high sugar intake. Despite these efforts, only 17% of the region’s population has access to essential oral health care, and the workforce remains inadequate.
In response, Kenya is working to strengthen oral health systems by training community health workers and engaging in regional capacity-building initiatives.
This year’s commemoration underscores the need for collective action to improve oral health outcomes and reduce the burden of preventable diseases.
