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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.
![Mrs Georgina Quaittoo [third from right] pose with some members of the Association Photos Okai Elizabeth.](https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Mrs-Georgina-Quaittoo-third-from-right-pose-with-some-members-of-the-Association-Photos-Okai-Elizabeth-400x240.jpg)
![Mrs Georgina Quaittoo [third from right] pose with some members of the Association Photos Okai Elizabeth.](https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Mrs-Georgina-Quaittoo-third-from-right-pose-with-some-members-of-the-Association-Photos-Okai-Elizabeth-80x80.jpg)
![Mrs Georgina Quaittoo [third from right] pose with some members of the Association Photos Okai Elizabeth.](https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Mrs-Georgina-Quaittoo-third-from-right-pose-with-some-members-of-the-Association-Photos-Okai-Elizabeth.jpg)
THE Times Ladies Association, a group consisting of female staff of the New Times Corporation (NTC), on Monday commemorated this year’s International Women’s Day with a call on women to empower themselves through education, unity and healthy living to contribute meaningfully to national development.
The event, held at the NTC’s boardroom, was attended by management members and staff of the corporation and was to celebrate the achievements of women and reflect on their role in society.
In her address, the President of the association, Mrs Georgina N.M Quaittoo, said the global celebration, marked annually on March 8, recognised the economic, political and social achievements of women while raising awareness about gender equality.
Although the international celebration fell on Sunday, she explained that the association decided to mark the occasion on March 9 to enable members to participate fully and commemorate the day in their own way.
Speaking on this year’s theme: ‘Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls,’ and the global campaign theme: ‘Give to Gain,’ she the association had over the years worked tirelessly to support the growth and progress of the corporation despite the challenges they faced.
Urged members to commit themselves to deeper service to humanity and the advancement of women. She said women were unique, resilient and invaluable to society, stating that they deserved respect, appreciation, kindness and love for the vital roles they played in families, workplaces and communities.
According to her, members of the President, who is also the Editor of The Spectator newspaper, encouraged members to empower themselves academically and take advantage of opportunities to improve their lives and careers.
She also urged them to maintain healthy lifestyles by going for regular medical check-ups, exercise regularly, get enough rest and support one another.
Moreover, she advised members to accept leadership positions when given the opportunity and to exhibit qualities such as hard work, confidence, patience, compassion and responsibility in both their homes and workplaces.
Contributing, the Chanel Marketing and Circulation Manager, Mr Alfred Koomson, said women played critical roles in society and deserved to be supported and appreciated.
He urged men to recognise that they were often vulnerable species without the care, support and contributions of women in their lives.
He, therefore, commended women for the invaluable roles they play as mothers, caregivers, professionals and leaders, stressing that society would be incomplete without them.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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GHANA celebrated her 69th Independence Anniversary last Friday with colourful parades across all 16 regions of the country.
This year’s theme: ‘Reflect, Review, Reset,’ emphasised the importance of reflecting on the nation’s journey, assessing its current state, and planning for a brighter future.
At the Jubilee House, dignitaries present were President John Mahama, Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, former Presidents, Akufo-Addo and John Agyekum Kufuor, behalf of the President, former President of Tanzania, and other distinguished guests.
The President, John Dramani Mahama, addressed the nation at the seat of government whiles Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives addressed their various assemblies on.
As part of the celebrations, school children paraded and displayed their marching skills whiles others performed cultural and other social activities to mark the day across the regions.
