WHO urges targeted investment to curb oral diseases in Africa

NAIROBI, March 19 (Xinhua) -- The growing burden of oral diseases in Africa can be curbed by investing in hygiene education, human resources and robust clinical interventions, a World Health Organization (WHO) official said on Tuesday, ahead of World Oral Health Day which falls on Wednesday.

Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO regional director for Africa, noted that the continent is an epicenter of oral ailments such as dental caries, gum disease and tooth loss, which affect 44 percent of the population.