Strengthening health systems to tackle oral diseases in Africa: Africa centers for disease control and prevention’s role
Oral diseases remain a significant public health challenge in Africa. Despite their prevalence, oral health is often overlooked in national health agendas and universal health coverage frameworks. This manuscript explores the crucial role of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Afr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1539805/full |
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| author | Moréniké Oluwátóyìn Foláyan Moréniké Oluwátóyìn Foláyan Adeyinka Ganiyat Ishola Ahmed Bhayat Ahmed Bhayat Maha El Tantawi Maha El Tantawi Nicaise Ndembi |
| author_facet | Moréniké Oluwátóyìn Foláyan Moréniké Oluwátóyìn Foláyan Adeyinka Ganiyat Ishola Ahmed Bhayat Ahmed Bhayat Maha El Tantawi Maha El Tantawi Nicaise Ndembi |
| author_sort | Moréniké Oluwátóyìn Foláyan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Oral diseases remain a significant public health challenge in Africa. Despite their prevalence, oral health is often overlooked in national health agendas and universal health coverage frameworks. This manuscript explores the crucial role of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in strengthening health systems to address the growing oral health problem in Africa. A rapid review of the literature was conducted in databases like PubMed and ScienceDirect identified 18 relevant studies focusing on workforce size, retention, distribution, patient access, and system outcomes. The analysis revealed severe workforce shortages, uneven distribution, and systemic neglect, particularly in rural areas. Promising interventions included dental education programs, task-shifting to mid-level workers, and mobile dental units. Key recommendations emphasize integrating oral health into national policies, addressing inequities, expanding training, and improving infrastructure and workforce retention through incentives. By leveraging its position and resources, the Africa CDC can take strategic actions to strengthen surveillance and data-driven policy development, provide technical assistance to Africa Union Member States for health system integration, support capacity building for oral health workforce development, promote preventive and community-based oral health interventions, facilitate cross-border collaboration and knowledge sharing, mobilize resources and funding for oral health programs, and support the local production of oral health products. These all aligns with the institution’s new public health order for Africa’s health security and one of the institutions’ 2023–2027 goals. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4d1fe857a9d742e99b3b8d043332576f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-4d1fe857a9d742e99b3b8d043332576f2025-01-23T06:56:03ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-01-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15398051539805Strengthening health systems to tackle oral diseases in Africa: Africa centers for disease control and prevention’s roleMoréniké Oluwátóyìn Foláyan0Moréniké Oluwátóyìn Foláyan1Adeyinka Ganiyat Ishola2Ahmed Bhayat3Ahmed Bhayat4Maha El Tantawi5Maha El Tantawi6Nicaise Ndembi7The Africa Oral Health Network (AFRONE), Alexandria University, Alexandria, EgyptDepartment of Child Dental Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, NigeriaDepartment of Nursing, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, NigeriaThe Africa Oral Health Network (AFRONE), Alexandria University, Alexandria, EgyptDepartment of Community Dentistry, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South AfricaThe Africa Oral Health Network (AFRONE), Alexandria University, Alexandria, EgyptDepartment of Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Alexandria University, Alexandria, EgyptAfrica Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaOral diseases remain a significant public health challenge in Africa. Despite their prevalence, oral health is often overlooked in national health agendas and universal health coverage frameworks. This manuscript explores the crucial role of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in strengthening health systems to address the growing oral health problem in Africa. A rapid review of the literature was conducted in databases like PubMed and ScienceDirect identified 18 relevant studies focusing on workforce size, retention, distribution, patient access, and system outcomes. The analysis revealed severe workforce shortages, uneven distribution, and systemic neglect, particularly in rural areas. Promising interventions included dental education programs, task-shifting to mid-level workers, and mobile dental units. Key recommendations emphasize integrating oral health into national policies, addressing inequities, expanding training, and improving infrastructure and workforce retention through incentives. By leveraging its position and resources, the Africa CDC can take strategic actions to strengthen surveillance and data-driven policy development, provide technical assistance to Africa Union Member States for health system integration, support capacity building for oral health workforce development, promote preventive and community-based oral health interventions, facilitate cross-border collaboration and knowledge sharing, mobilize resources and funding for oral health programs, and support the local production of oral health products. These all aligns with the institution’s new public health order for Africa’s health security and one of the institutions’ 2023–2027 goals.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1539805/fullequityintegrated health systemsworkforce developmenthealth security’ health systems strengtheningsystemic inequitieshealth workforce retention |
| spellingShingle | Moréniké Oluwátóyìn Foláyan Moréniké Oluwátóyìn Foláyan Adeyinka Ganiyat Ishola Ahmed Bhayat Ahmed Bhayat Maha El Tantawi Maha El Tantawi Nicaise Ndembi Strengthening health systems to tackle oral diseases in Africa: Africa centers for disease control and prevention’s role Frontiers in Public Health equity integrated health systems workforce development health security’ health systems strengthening systemic inequities health workforce retention |
| title | Strengthening health systems to tackle oral diseases in Africa: Africa centers for disease control and prevention’s role |
| title_full | Strengthening health systems to tackle oral diseases in Africa: Africa centers for disease control and prevention’s role |
| title_fullStr | Strengthening health systems to tackle oral diseases in Africa: Africa centers for disease control and prevention’s role |
| title_full_unstemmed | Strengthening health systems to tackle oral diseases in Africa: Africa centers for disease control and prevention’s role |
| title_short | Strengthening health systems to tackle oral diseases in Africa: Africa centers for disease control and prevention’s role |
| title_sort | strengthening health systems to tackle oral diseases in africa africa centers for disease control and prevention s role |
| topic | equity integrated health systems workforce development health security’ health systems strengthening systemic inequities health workforce retention |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1539805/full |
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