FDI President Orlando Monteiro da Silva was one among four speakers to address a special Live.Learn.Laugh. (LLL) symposium held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 28 June. The symposium was held within the context of the Joint International Conference of the Sri Lanka Dental Association (SLDA) 80th Anniversary Annual Scientific Sessions, part of FDI’s worldwide Continuing Education programme, which took place from 27 June to 1 July.
LLL is a joint international partnership between FDI with Unilever Oral Care whose goal is ‘to work together to measurably improve oral health through encouraging twice daily brushing with a fluoride toothpaste’. Currrently in Phase II, LLL is underway in 27 countries worldwide.
Global Context
For his contribution, the FDI President briefly outlined the role and operations of FDI, providing the global context for the national LLL programme. For her part, Dr Vaidehi Ketkar, Regional LLL Partnership Manager,.Unilever, described the LLL concept as well as its historic background.Local project leader, Dr Prasad Amaratunga of SLDA, provided an outline of the aims and achievements of the national LLL project, one of eight underway in Asia targeting schoolchildren.
SE Asia Perspective
The South-East Asia perspective was provided by Prof Prathip Phamtuvanit, LLL Regional Coordinator for Asia. He pointed out that, according to baseline data collected in Asia, the 11 LLL projects have reached out to at least 10,700 children and dental patients.
“During the last two years, I have spoken at a number of LLL events and workshops,” said Dr da Silva. “I never fail to be impressed by the support for LLL and the impact it is having on people’s lives. It is one of the best examples we have of FDI, in partnership with Unilever, ‘leading the world to optimal oral health.”
Sri Lanka: Facts and Figures
- Population: 21 million;
- Number of dental surgeons: 2,000 (approx);
- Number working in public sector: 1,420 DMTF (5 years prevalence in 2002/03): 3.6
- Number of dental faculties: 1 (Peradeniya University)
- In Sri Lanka, national oral health policy has been drafted in accordance with national health policy. Its implementation will ensure oral health care services are integrated with medical services
(Source: SLDA)
