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More youths being urged to pursue dentistry
A call has been made for more youths to pursue careers in dentistry to strengthen the national programme.
According to Principal Dental Officer, Dr. Kester Sullivan, efforts are being made to especially target the school-age population to provide maintenance and training programmes on good oral health practices.
Most Improved Student, Vikram Jacob
“My advice to young persons interested in being in the field is to visit the Health Expo [May 30 – June 02] which will show them a variety of areas of dentistry that they can venture into, and also give them a greater appreciation of the field,” Dr. Sullivan stated.
Dr. Sullivan made the call during last Friday’s graduation ceremony of the third batch of Dental Assistants [DAs] who successfully completed the one-year programme at the Cheddi Jagan Dental School in the capital.
The students were drawn from Barima/Waini [Region One]; Essequibo Islands/West Demerara [Region Three]; Demerara/Mahaica [Region Four]; Mahaica/Berbice [Region Five]; Cuyuni/Mazaruni [Region Seven]; Potaro/Siparuni [Region Eight]; Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo [Region Nine] and Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice [Region 10].
The 16 DAs were coursed in a variety of specialised areas in dentistry including training in sterilisation, patient care, ethics and communication, anatomy, oral health promotion and care of equipment, amon
Most Improved Student, Vikram Jacob
g other areas.
Dr. Sullivan justified the programme, explaining that the training creates linkages that enable professional execution of their jobs.
“When the Dental Assistants are being trained, they are aware of the types of treatment being issued and are also knowledgeable in that regard, so as to effectively assist in getting the job done,” Dr. Sullivan said.
He said that as part of their duties the DAs are expected to prepare the work sites as well to ensure equipment are ready for procedures.
There are plans to introduce a Dentex course for future trainees, Dr. Sullivan said, explaining that “hopefully this will be available when the next batch of 35 commences their training in the last quarter this year.”
Potaro/Siparuni resident, Jeslyn Blenman, who copped the Best Graduating Student prize, challenged her colleagues to “make a difference” in their profession and serve their country with excellence.
“The course had its high and low points, but I’m thankful to the lecturers who were very patient and took the time to slow it down in the classroom to ensure everyone understood what was being taught,” Blenman reflected.
“We the graduating class are grateful for the hard work and effort throughout the programme,” Blenman said, singling out doctors Sullivan and Debra Patterson, the Coordinators of the training programme.
Dr. Kester Sullivan
The one-year training revolutionised the thinking of Kenecia Bacchus who noted that the course “has changed my perspective positively on the world of work and the dentistry field.”
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