Dentists in short supply in Cameroon

The entire country counts on 212 dentists, with the bulk concentrated in Yaounde and Douala where business booms.

There are indications that thousands of mouth and teeth disease sufferers in Cameroon helplessly watch their situation worsen due to the scarcity of specialists. Indeed, formal statistics from the Ministry of Health indicate that the entire country counts only 212 recognized dentists! The already disconcerting situation is further compounded by the fact that of the figure, 82 percent are concentrated in Douala and Yaounde where business flourishes. By implication, vast parts of the country with a population estimated at above 17 million have no dentists.

The troubling picture was painted Monday, recently in Douala, at the start of a week-long buccodental (month-teeth) forum grouping attendees from Cameroon and beyond. Organized by the apolitical and not-for-profit association of Cameroonian dentist, christened SMILE, the 7th edition of the buccodental health days airs at proposing antidotes.

Marguerite Lamanak, SMILE president, expressed disappointment with trivial or total government nonchalance in redressing the situation. She said a combination of poverty and ignorance implied that month and teeth ailments like tooth decay, swelling gums, buccal cancer, etc, were bound to prevail. She regretted that only a small number of Cameroonians cared enough to conduct prescribed annual month exams. She said SMILE will teach dentists and other medics new and less costly treatment methods that can be administered every where.

“We are training dentists on new treatment methods that require electricity or plumbing…This means it can be administered anywhere, and even in rural areas where there is no electricity and running water. We shall also train them on new hygiene methods to pass on the populations, as well as introduce basic knowledge on dental research,” she explained.

Smoking, high alcohol and carbohydrates consumption, etc, have resulted in the developing world hosting the highest prevalence of mouth and teeth ailments around the globe. Cameroon WHO country representative, Helen Mambu-ma-Disu, said bucco-dental diseases had become the fourth most-disturbing health problem in the world with 6-12 year olds being the most vulnerable.