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Oral Health Education: Dr.Louisa Satekla pays courtesy call on Education Minister
Ghanaian Dental Surgeon and FDI Global Ambassador for World Oral Health Day, Dr Louisa Satekla paid a courtesy call on Haruna Iddrisu, Ghana’s Minister for Education at his office in Accra.
The meeting focused on fostering collaboration between the Ministry of Education and the World Dental Federation (FDI) to promote oral health education in schools across the country.
During the discussions, Dr. Satekla emphasized the urgent need to address oral health challenges among Ghanaian children, highlighting the prevalence of dental diseases such as dental caries and gum infections, which often affect students’ overall well-being.
She called for strategic interventions to integrate oral health education into the school curriculum, ensuring that children develop lifelong habits of proper oral hygiene.
Dr. Louisa also proposed the official recognition of March 20th as World Oral Health Day in Ghanaian schools, urging the Ministry of Education to promote classroom discussions, awareness campaigns, and interactive sessions with dental professionals.
She emphasized the need for practical oral health programs that engage students, teachers, and parents while ensuring schools have access to basic oral hygiene tools.
She also encouraged government partnerships with private organizations to provide resources and training for better oral health education.
Additionally, she advocated for a Sugar-Free School Policy to regulate snacks and drinks in school canteens, replacing sugary beverages with healthier alternatives like water and fruits.
In response, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu acknowledged that dental health and good oral hygiene practices do not receive enough attention in Ghana.
He expressed his commitment to exploring avenues for incorporating oral health education into Ghana’s education system. He recognized the importance of early preventive care and assured Dr. Satekla that the Ministry would collaborate with relevant stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Dental Association, to implement sustainable oral health initiatives.
“The health of our children must be a top priority, and oral health plays a crucial role in their overall well-being. The Ministry of Education is fully committed to working closely with key stakeholders to integrate oral health education into our schools and ensure that every child has access to preventive dental care,” Mr. Iddrisu affirmed.
Mr. Iddrisu also took the opportunity to congratulate Dr. Louisa Satekla for making Ghana proud and reaching this significant milestone in her career.
He commended her dedication to promoting oral health awareness and her continuous efforts to improve global dental health standards.
Last month, the FDI World Dental Federation announced Dr. Louisa Satekla as its Global Ambassador for an unprecedented fourth consecutive year, ahead of the 2025 World Oral Health Day (WOHD) campaign.
She will lead efforts to amplify this year’s message that oral health is foundational to mental resilience and physical vitality.
As an Ambassador, she will also spearhead initiatives targeting underserved populations, reinforcing FDI’s mission to bridge global oral health disparities.
These initiatives will include educational programs, interactive community events, and social media engagement to spread accessible oral health practices.
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Prioritise affordable treatment of sickle cell treatment —Health Expert
Health experts have urged Ghana to prioritise affordable and accessible treatment for sickle cell disease (SCD) as advanced, but costly curative therapies remain out of reach.
SCD, an inherited blood disorder, affects about three in every 100 newborns in Ghana.
Globally, around 1,000 babies are born with the condition daily, with three-quarters in sub-Saharan Africa.
The disease causes severe complications including chronic pain, anaemia, infections, strokes and organ damage, often leading to shortened life expectancy.
In recent years, gene therapy has been developed as a potential cure.
However, its cost—running into millions of dollars per patient—makes it financially and technically inaccessible in Ghana.
According to Dr Lawrence Osei-Tutu, a Sickle Cell and Childhood Cancer Expert at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, “the country must instead focus on practical, lower-cost interventions such as hydroxyurea”, a decades-old cancer drug proven to reduce painful episodes, hospitalisation and life- threatening complications in SCD patients”.
Taken orally, the medicine improves red blood cell function and is considered safe and effective.
“Hydroxyurea therapy is as good as the cure and a low-hanging fruit to pluck, we must bring a cure to our sickle cell warriors, but do so sustainably.” he urged.
In a chat with The Spectator here, he said to create awareness on the disease, the expert noted that despite its benefits, “hydroxyurea is not widely accessible in Ghana.”
Stressing that, “many patients either cannot afford it or struggle with irregular supply through the health system.”
Moreover, he argued that scaling up access would provide immediate relief while the country builds the infrastructure, trains specialists and secures funding needed to support curative therapies in the future.
With an estimated 15,000 babies born with sickle cell disease annually in Ghana, Dr Osei Tutu cautioned that “failure to improve access to effective treatment will leave many patients vulnerable to preventable complications and early death.”
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
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Let’s reintroduce Cultural Studies to complement educational reforms — Tourism Minister
Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, has emphasised the importance of reintroducing Cultural Studies in schools as part of Ghana’s broader educational reform agenda.
She said Cultural Studies would complement existing efforts to reposition Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to promote digital literacy and expand Creative Arts education.
Speaking at the 2025 Homowo Festival of the people of Ningo-Prampram, held on the theme: “Education: The Best Legacy for our Children,” Madam Gomashie said cultural education was critical to national identity and development.
She noted that the festival’s theme aligned with the Government’s vision to transform education in Ghana and encouraged the youth to embrace it not only as a means of personal development but also as a way of preserving traditional values.
These values, including patience, wisdom, and hard work, were at the core of the Homowo celebration, the Minister said.
“Cultural festivals like Homowo are vital instruments for strengthening cultural identity, preserving historical memory, and fostering national unity. Additionally, festivals serve as platforms for educating the youth through storytelling, music, dance, and other traditional practices, while also providing opportunities for community engagement.”
Madam Gomashie highlighted the strong foundation that Ghana’s tourism was built on, which included culture, traditions, and the creative industry, collectively contributing to over GH¢4.8 billion to the economy.
“Festivals give tourists reasons to visit our country. Therefore, with the right infrastructure and the development of all the domains, the sector can do more than what has been recorded,” she added.
Mr Sam Nartey George, the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram and Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, commended the community for their vibrant participation in the festival. He announced plans for the construction of a new nursing training school in Ningo, aimed at expanding access to healthcare education in the area.
Nene Osroagbo Djangmah XII, Paramount Chief of Great Ningo Traditional Area; King Dr Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, Ga Mantse; Nene Tetteh Wakah III, Paramount Chief of the Prampram Traditional Area; Prof. Odaifio Welentsi III, Paramount Chief of the Nungua Traditional Area; Naana Dugbakuwor Dugba II, Paramount Queen Mother of Great Ningo; and Mr. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, Special Envoy on Religion and Inter-Faith Affairs, who represented the Chief of Staff, were among dignitaries at the festival. -GNA
