Tuesday, February 02 – The British Virgin Islands Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) is pleased to announce that the first Oral Health Survey is underway in the Virgin Islands.
During her welcome remarks at an opening ceremony held on Monday, February 1st, Dental Unit Manager, Dr. Nikki Rubaine-Connell expressed her excitement as she greeted the audience. “Today is a very special day for the Dental Unit as we have begun this very same journey on many occasions without ever reaching to this point because of whatever obstacles we had encountered. It is with persistence that this week of calibration and preparation for the first ever Oral Health Survey is now here.”
In attendance, endorsing the event was the Honourable Dancia Penn-Sallah OBE, QC, Minister of Health and Social Development and Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Petrona Davies.
Additional sentiments of endorsement where echoed by Ag. Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ronald Georges who said, “The impact that these efforts are playing in the oral health of our children is unknown. We are unable to focus our efforts because we have no knowledge of where we are now and where we need to be. This Oral Health Survey will measure decayed, missing and filled teeth in children ages 6, 12, and 15 giving us a starting point to determine what the status of our children is now, and what we need to do to bring all school aged children to excellent oral health.”
Joining in the collaborative effort with the BVIHSA and the Ministry of Health and Social Development are two facilitators from Health Canada; Dr. Harry Ames, who holds memberships in several associations including the Canadian Association of Public Health Dentistry, International Association of Dental Research, Canadian Dental Association, Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario, New Brunswick Dental Society and is a fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry. Dr. Ames joined Health Canada in 2001 with the Non-Insured Health Benefits Directorate as Dental Consultant to the dental provider audit program. He currently is the Assistant Chief Dental Officer in Office of the Chief Dental Officer.
Dr. Ames is assisted by Amanda Gillis who has been working as a Policy Advisor in the Office of the Chief Dental Officer, Health Canada since 2005. Before taking on this role, Ms. Gillis worked in the Dental Division of Primary Health Care and Public Health Directorate (Health Canada) as a Health Promotion Officer for over three years.
A tightly packed week of activities has been prepared by the facilitators which will include a four day screening of permitted students at the Althea Scatliffe Primary School. Sessions will focus on standardizing the team by analyzing their techniques and preparing them for the actual collection of the data. After this week of calibration, the dental team will visit schools on Tortola and Virgin Gorda over the month of February. “I am excited and I know the rest of the team is ready and willing to embark on this pioneering event. “Dr. Rubaine-Connell said.
The Dental Unit, located on the fourth floor of the Glancina George Building in Road Town, treats both school children and adults by appointment, Monday through Friday.
PHOTO CAPTION: Left to Right – Mrs. Petrona Davies (Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Health and Social Development); Ms. Amanda Gillis and Dr. Harry Ames (Facilitators from Health Canada); Hon. Dancia Penn-Sallah OBE, QC (Minister of Health and Social Development); Dr. Nikki Rubaine-Connell (Dental Unit Manager); Dr. Ronald Georges (Ag. Chief Executive Officer); Mr. Don Lewis (Operations Manager).
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