ADAHVO in Southeast Asia

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam—Health Volunteers Overseas’ dental public health education programs in Southeast Asia continue to make a difference for rural and underserved populations in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

“The Dental Public Health Diploma course, taught by ADA/HVO volunteers, provides a unique opportunity for those attending to gain mastery of prevention-oriented skills,” said Dr. Martin Hobdell, program director for HVO’s dental public health components in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

“Millions of people in Southeast Asia depend on government dental services, yet governments in the region can afford less than $1 (U.S.) per year per person for dental care. Oral health workers must be able to plan, organize and implement population-based preventive oral health programs,” Dr. Hobdell added. “Equally important are the skills needed to identify local and national oral health needs and appropriate evidence-based clinical treatment protocols to meet those needs. They must also be able to plan, implement, evaluate and manage these services, to make sure that the maximum benefit is derived from the limited resources available. The Dental Public Health Diploma course helps students gain mastery of these management skills.”

In December 2008, 25 students completed the dental public health course at the University of Health Sciences in Ho Chi Minh City. This was the third graduating class to complete the program, and all 25 dentists completed the coursework while holding full-time positions in Vietnam’s Public Dental Services program.

The dental public health course is sponsored by the International College of Dentists, USA Section and taught mainly by volunteers recruited by HVO and the American Dental Association.

HVO and ADA volunteers along with their professional counterparts in Vietnam also conducted a two-day dental public health workshop in Da Nang in December. International presenters covered macro-economic policy, health and dental education, importance of central government support, human resources, oral health promotion and the importance of support and coordination from ministries of education and health. The workshop was sponsored by Henry Schein Inc. and the local Colgate office.

In Vientiane, Laos, HVO awaits final approval for the first-ever dental public health master’s course to begin this spring. As the dental school at the University of Health Sciences in Vientiane undergoes major renovations, the dental school has designated a space for dental public health studies that will be equipped and furnished with funding in part by the ICD USA Section.

HVO continues to work to establish a master’s in dental public health course in Cambodia. The Faculty of Odonto-stomatology in Phnom Penh will offer the program, which is expected to begin this spring with 10 students.

HVO is a private nonprofit organization committed to improving health care in developing countries through training and education. By emphasizing teaching and training rather than direct patient care, HVO aims to create an indigenous group of trained local health workers who can teach others in their communities.

The ADA sponsors HVO’s dental education programs, and they are managed in collaboration with the ADA Center for International Development and Affairs. Currently HVO has dentistry programs in Cambodia, Honduras, Laos, Nicaragua, St. Lucia, Tanzania and Vietnam. Volunteers must be members of the American Dental Association or the Canadian Dental Association with a current license.

To learn more about HVO dental education activities, visit the Web site www.hvousa.org. To learn about other international volunteer opportunities, contact the ADA Center for International Development and Affairs at 1-312-440-2726 or international@ada.org.