The Rotary Club of Accra Labone has organised a free dental screening and treatment exercise for children at the New Horizon Special School in Cantonments.
The outreach sought to improve access to oral health care for children with special needs, many of whom face sensory, communication and mobility challenges that make visits to conventional dental clinics difficult.
It was organised in collaboration with Rotary Clubs of Accra Dzorwulu, Accra North Kaneshie, Accra Airport East and Accra Spintex, the Rotaract Club of Accra Labone, the Interact Club of Accra Labone, the University of Ghana Dental School, exchange students from New York University and corporate support from Unilever Ghana.
Purpose
Speaking at the event, the President of the Rotary Club of Accra Labone, Mercy Odzawo, said the initiative was introduced to bridge the gap in oral health care for children with special needs.
She explained that many of the children struggled to access dental services because they were often anxious about dental procedures or faced physical and sensory limitations.
“Even some adults are afraid of the dental chair.
Some of these children become agitated in that environment, while others have mobility challenges. Bringing dental care to their doorstep helps remove those barriers,” she said.
Mrs Odzawo said the club initiated the project last year after engaging with the school and the University of Ghana Dental School and had returned this year to continue the intervention.
Partnership
The President of the Rotary Club of Accra Spintex, Rita Owusu-Brempong, described the exercise as a meaningful intervention that would make oral health care more accessible to children who might otherwise avoid visiting dental clinics.
“Some of these children may not want to visit the regular dental clinic, so bringing the service to their doorstep will make a significant difference in their lives,” she said.
She noted that the collaboration reflected Rotary’s commitment to service and encouraged other organisations to undertake similar initiatives for vulnerable groups.
“I would encourage other organisations to visit the marginalised in society because such interventions go a long way to improve lives,” she added.
Commitment
The President of the Rotary Club of Accra Dzorwulu, Irene Baminni Salia, said the outreach embodied Rotary’s principle of “Service Above Self” while ensuring that children with special needs received quality oral health care.
She said the organisers selected New Horizon Special School because children with special needs were sometimes overlooked despite being an important part of society.
“We wanted to ensure these young ones are not forgotten.
Our goal is to help them maintain healthy smiles and prevent dental conditions that could lead to more serious health problems in the future,” she said.
Screening
A Lecturer in Preventive Dentistry at the University of Ghana Dental School, Dr Josephine Sackeyfio, said the exercise involved oral examinations and professional teeth cleaning, while children requiring further treatment would be referred to dental facilities with their parents.
She said final-year dental students from the University of Ghana, together with exchange students from New York University, participated in the exercise under professional supervision.
Dr Sackeyfio emphasised that early detection of oral diseases could prevent pain, improve nutrition and enhance the overall quality of life of children with special needs.
She also urged volunteers and caregivers to create a calm, patient and supportive environment to make dental care less intimidating and more accessible for the children.
