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ASEAN Roundtable on Oral Health Promotion: A Collaborative Effort to Promote Oral Health Across the Lifespan
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| Front row (From Left to Right): Assoc Prof Nguyen Thi Hong Minh (Vietnam), Dr Jamaliah Omar (Malaysia), Prof Chris Peck (Singapore), Dr Joseph John C. Formoso (Philippines), Dr Iwan Dewanto (Indonesia). Back row (From Left to Right): Prof Khin Maung (Myanmar), Dr Nguyen Thanh Huyen (Vietnam), Assoc Prof Chng Chai Kiat (Singapore), Dr Mana Seth (Cambodia), Dr Melissa Adiatman (Indonesia), Dr Voramon Agrasuta (Thailand), Ms Khadijah Haji Wasali (Brunei Darussalam), Dr Sylviana Haji Moris (Brunei Darussalam), Assoc Prof Wong Mun Loke (Singapore). |
On 10 and 11 Oct 2024, NUS Faculty of Dentistry, in collaboration with the NUS Global Health Office, hosted an inaugural ASEAN Roundtable Discussion on Oral Health Promotion, gathering representatives from ASEAN countries for two days of focused discussions. This roundtable discussion aimed to address key oral health challenges in the region and explore strategies for improving oral health through stakeholder engagement, education, and research.
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Prof Teo Yik Ying, Vice President (Global Health), NUS |
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| Assoc Prof Chng Chai Kiat, Chief Dental Officer, Ministry of Health, Singapore, welcoming participants |
Prof Chris Peck, Dean, NUS Dentistry, engaging with the visitors during his Welcome Address. |
Through a series of country presentations and engaging discussions, participants learned more about best practices in promoting oral health in the population. At the same time, possible and potential barriers in advancing such efforts were also shared. This engendered many fruitful conversations around ways to address these issues.
Commenting on the significance of the roundtable, Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, Prof Chris Peck, said, “It was an honour for our Faculty and NUS’ Office of Global Health to host this event, exploring how research and education can enhance regional health and wellbeing. The invaluable expertise and experience shared by roundtable participants allowed us to draft actionable plans for improving regional oral health promotion.”
Assoc Prof Chng Chai Kiat, Chief Dental Officer, Ministry of Health, Singapore added that “The roundtable discussion was an excellent opportunity for us to network with one another and better appreciate the challenges and opportunities in promoting oral health in our respective countries. Together, we were also able to share insights on ways to advance such efforts to improve oral health which is an important part of one’s overall wellbeing. Moving forward, we hope to bring some of the ideas discussed to fruition and explore best practices to reduce the impact of common oral diseases such as dental caries and periodontal disease.”
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Assoc Prof Wong Mun Loke, Associate Provost (Integrated Education) |
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| Participants touring the Faculty’s Simulation Laboratory and Research Laboratories and learning more about the educational and research functions of the NUS Dentistry. |
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In addition to the productive discussions, all participants went on a guided tour of the Faculty’s state-of-the-art facilities, including the simulation laboratory, clinics, and research laboratory. This tour provided visitors with firsthand insights into the Faculty's innovative approaches to dental education and research.
A draft report outlining the key issues, challenges, and collective responses for the region, aimed at developing strategies and action plans to promote oral health across the lifespan, has been created. This report will be finalised by attendees in the coming month.
The vision for good oral health and its associated concerns are shared across borders, and regional collaboration enables the pooling of knowledge, resources, and strategies to create more effective, unified solutions. By working together, ASEAN member states can leverage their collective strengths, address gaps, and move forward with a cohesive approach.
This roundtable discussion highlights the Faculty's ongoing role in fostering cross-border partnerships and driving innovation in oral health education and research, recognising that regional cooperation is essential to achieving meaningful progress in public health across the ASEAN region.