FINANCIAL STRAIN PUSHES OYAM RESIDENTS TO RISKY DENTAL ALTERNATIVES

Team of dentists from Hope Smile-Jinja extracting a tooth from a client at Acimi HCIII facility during the recent dental camp organized by Community Focus International. Photo by Ambrose Okai.

By Ambrose Okai

Oyam

Residents of Oyam District are having financial burden due to the high transport costs required to access dental services at Anyeke HCIV, the only facility in the district with a qualified dentist.

Motorcycle fares from most sub-counties range between 30,000/= and 50,000/= for a round trip which leaves many low-income families with no choice but to turn to unqualified clinic operators for dental care, an alternative that can be risky and inadequate.

During a five-day dental camp organized by Community Focus International, in collaboration with Oyam District Woman MP Santa Alum Ogwang, the pressing need for dental care in the community became evident.

The camp treated a total of 743 patients. 223 patients at Acimi Health Centre III in Myene Sub-County, Oyam South, while 520 patients at Iceme Health Centre in Oyam North. But many residents seeking care were unable to be attended to.

Eric Jefferson Ogang, Communications Officer for Community Focus International, said the large turnout for the camp demonstrates the urgent need for more dentists to serve the community.

‘’You find that there are a lot of people down here who don't have the finances to go to a dentist. You get somebody saying that they have to go up to Lira to go and extract their tooth because there's no professional dentist within the community,’’Ogang said.

‘’Unfortunately, we weren't able to serve the whole community because of time, so we had to send back those who we had not been seen because there was a big number here, over 100  that we had to send them back,’’ he adds.

Nancy Atim, a beneficiary of the dental camp said some people who went seeking help were unable to access the services due to the overwhelming demand.

"Many people came to receive dental care, but some had to leave without being attended to. With only one dentist in the district, many of us are forced to travel to Lira or Gulu city for treatment," Atim lamented.

Clients registering to seek dental help at Acimi HCIII facility for Oral Hygiene session
during the recent dental camp organized by Community Focus International.
Photo by Ambrose Okai.

Florence Akech, a resident of Minakulu Sub-County, appealed to the government, saying there is a need for more dentist’s recruitment locally to reduce the high costs of managing dental problems.

"Most people resort to clinic operators who charge between 8,000/= and 10,000/= to extract a tooth, but at government facilities, these fees wouldn’t apply if we had a qualified dental practitioner," she noted.

Esther Adero, the In-Charge of Acimi Health Centre III, pointed out that the facility receives 8 to 10 client’s weekly seeking dental care, but they have no option apart from referring them to the facility with a qualified dental practitioner.  
   
She emphasized the importance of preventive care, recommending practices such as brushing twice daily, flossing, reducing sugary foods, and regular dental check-ups.

Adero also encouraged the community to adopt healthier habits like eating calcium-rich foods and avoiding tobacco.