ICOH for Africa Collaborates with Pharma-Deko PLC to Commemorate World Oral Health Day 2026

The Intercountry Centre for Oral Health for Africa (ICOH), Jos, in collaboration with Pharma-Deko Nigeria PLC, successfully commemorated World Oral Health Day (WOHD) 2026 under the theme:

“A Happy Mouth… is a Happy Life.”

The initiative focused on strengthening public awareness of oral hygiene, promoting preventive oral healthcare practices, and emphasizing the importance of incorporating mouthwash use into daily oral care routines.

Outreach Activities and Engagements

The celebration featured a wide range of impactful outreach activities conducted across Plateau State, including:

School oral health visits
Orphanage outreaches
Community oral health awareness walks
Webinars and public lectures
Media engagements (radio, television, and social media campaigns)
Oral health screenings
Free dental treatment services
Distribution of oral hygiene products, including Brett and Hexedene mouthwashes

These activities were implemented in schools, markets, government institutions, motor parks, media platforms, and community centres.

Reach and Impact

The campaign reached an estimated over 2.5 million people, both directly and indirectly, through combined physical outreach and mass media sensitisation efforts.

Free oral healthcare services provided during the programme included:
Oral health screening
Scaling and polishing
Tooth extractions
Oral health counselling and education
Provision of dentures
Referrals for advanced dental care
Key Observations

A key finding from the outreach was the relatively low use of mouthwash among the population, despite high awareness of toothbrushing practices. This highlights the need for sustained public education on comprehensive oral hygiene practices.

Stakeholder Participation

The programme recorded strong participation from:

Dental and medical professionals
Medical and dental students
Government agencies
Educational institutions
Media organisations
Community stakeholders
Conclusion

Overall, the WOHD 2026 commemoration was highly impactful, significantly strengthening public awareness on oral hygiene and preventive dental care. The collaboration between ICOH for Africa and Pharma-Deko Nigeria PLC played a vital role in the success of the campaign and reinforced ongoing efforts to improve oral health outcomes in Nigeria and across Africa.