The Intercountry Centre for Oral Health for Africa, Jos in collaboration with Pharma Deko Nigeria PLC
The Intercountry Centre for Oral Health for Africa, Jos in collaboration with Pharma Deko Nigeria PLC successfully commemorated the World Oral Health Day (WOHD) 2026 under the theme, “A Happy Mouth… is a Happy Life.” The initiative focused on promoting oral hygiene awareness, preventive oral healthcare, and the importance of mouthwash use as part of daily oral care practices.
The celebration featured extensive outreach activities including school visits, orphanage outreaches, oral health awareness walks, webinars, media engagements, public lectures, oral screenings, free dental treatments, and distribution of oral hygiene products such as Brett and Hexedene mouthwashes. Activities were carried out across schools, markets, government institutions, motor parks, media platforms, and community centres within Plateau State.
A total of over 2.5 million people were reached directly and indirectly through radio, television, social media, public sensitisation campaigns, and community outreach programmes. Free oral health services provided included oral screening, scaling and polishing, tooth extractions, oral health counselling, denture provision, and referrals for complex dental cases.
The programme recorded strong participation from dental professionals, medical students, government agencies, educational institutions, media organisations, and community stakeholders. Findings from the outreach revealed low daily mouthwash usage among the population despite high awareness of toothbrushing, highlighting the need for sustained oral health education.
Overall, the WOHD 2026 celebration was highly impactful and strengthened public awareness of the importance of oral hygiene and preventive dental care. The collaboration between ICOH for Africa and Pharma Deko Nigeria PLC significantly contributed to the success of the campaign and reinforced efforts toward improving oral health outcomes in Nigeria and across Africa.
