Medics at Kibogora Hospital in Nyamasheke District are working hard to eliminate oral diseases in the area.

Thacien Ngarukiye, a dental therapist at the hospital, said cases of oral diseases have gradually dropped.

"In May 2013, we registered a total of 528 oral health cases but the cases dropped to 350 in the same month this year,” he said.

He added that dental decay is the commonest oral ailment which he attributed to low awareness on oral hygiene.

"The majority of people around do not take periodic dental check-ups seriously, so they come when their conditions have worsened and the only option is extracting the affected tooth,” he noted. 

Ngarukiye was on Monday addressing Ministry of Health officials currently on a countrywide tour of health facilities.

He noted that they visit at least one health centre of the 12 under their jurisdiction weekly, training medics and sensitising residents on oral health.   

The hospital currently has only two dental health specialists and two more are needed to fill the gap.

"It is at times hard to go to the grassroots to sensitise the public because you do not have someone to leave behind,” he added.

The dental department also serves people from the neighbouring districts of Rusizi and Karongi.

Jean Claude Manirafasha, a data analyst at the hospital, said oral ailments accounted for 10.7 per cent of cases handled there between July 2013 and May 2014.

Jacqueline Akimana, a resident of Kanjongo Sector, Nyamasheke District, said oral diseases are no longer common in the area as was the case in the recent past.

"The situation was bad, but interestingly very few people sought medical care, until Kibogora Hospital management initiated routine visits to health centres and homes sensitising people on oral health,” she noted.

Chantal Mukeshimana, another dental therapist, remarked that majority of residents in the area had health insurance (about 95 per cent), which makes access to healthcare easier.

"There is no nearby hospital where we can refer patients with advanced conditions. Kigali and Huye hospitals which offer advanced oral healthcare services are too far, that is why we emphasise prevention instead of having to extract a tooth that should have otherwise  been treated, ” Mukeshimana added.

Dr Damien Nsabimana, the medical Director of Kibogora Hospital, said behavior change is still a challenge.

"When you consult with patients, you notice that some of them take up to five months without brushing their teeth, and this could be the reason such cases are high in this area,” Nsabimana said.

He said apart from educating people on oral health, they started to give out free tooth brushes to poor residents.

Jean Claude Nishimwe, a community health worker in the area, said a team of about 1063 community based health workers visit over 300 households monthly as part of an oral health awareness campaign.

"We warn them against tobacco and other things responsible for tooth decay,” he said.