São Tomé honours Mundo a Sorrir for oral health work
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Jornal Tropical
The government of São Tomé and Príncipe has honoured Portuguese NGO Mundo a Sorrir for its work in oral health, which has already helped nearly 50,000 people in the archipelago. Health Minister Celso Matos praised a partnership that has strengthened prevention and care, Jornal Tropical reports.
The government of São Tomé and Príncipe awarded a certificate of merit to Mundo a Sorrir, a Portuguese NGO involved in dental prevention and care, after it had assisted more than 47,300 beneficiaries in the archipelago. The distinction was presented by Health Minister Celso Matos at the country’s first meeting devoted to oral health, according to Jornal Tropical.
Since beginning its work in São Tomé and Príncipe in 2013, Mundo a Sorrir has organised more than 1,600 awareness sessions, carried out more than 47,633 screenings and provided 10,422 dental treatments. The NGO has also sent more than 94 volunteers and distributed more than 68,278 toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste, according to Jornal Tropical.
Celso Matos said dental care was among the services most in demand from the population, but was often sought late, when patients were already suffering from acute problems. Mundo a Sorrir president Maria Dolores said the organisation also worked on training professionals, improving infrastructure and educating people about prevention. Founded in Porto 21 years ago, the NGO also operates in Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde.
