SERHA Dental Auxiliary team champions environmental action with Lyssons Beach clean-up

IN AN encouraged blend of health advocacy and environmental action, the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) Dental Auxiliary team traded dental tools for gloves and plastic bags to clean the Lyssons Public Beach in St Thomas under their theme: ‘Dental Auxiliary: Promoting a Healthy Environment for Healthy Smiles’.

The activity marked the official start of Dental Auxiliaries Week, being celebrated from May 5-9. With the overarching theme, ‘Dental Auxiliaries: Promoting a Healthy Environment for a Healthy Smile’, the week highlights the vital role dental professionals play not only in oral health, but also in promoting public wellness and environmental stewardship.

On Monday, May 5, over 50 dedicated healthcare workers, including dental nurses, dental hygienists, dental technicians, and dental assistants, participated in the beach clean-up at Lyssons Public Beach. Armed with gloves, garbage bags, and a shared commitment to community health, the team collected plastic waste, debris, and other pollutants from the shoreline.

“The health of our environment directly impacts the health of our people,” said Regional Dental Auxiliary Coordinator, Sharon Headman. “We remove 11 clear garbage bags of bottles, two boxes of glass bottles, 79 black bags, two drums, a 50 pounder, and a 100 pounder. This clean-up was not only about removing trash but about sending a clear message that your environment does affect your oral health, and dental health professionals are also advocates for a cleaner, safer Jamaica.”

From Wednesday to Friday, members of the Dental Auxiliary will gather at the Iberostar Waves Hotel in Montego Bay for their annual conference.

Keynote speaker, Leonard Francis, chief executive officer of the National Environment and Planning Agency, is expected to deliver a powerful address on the intersection of environmental sustainability and public health.

The Dental Auxiliaries Week is an annual observance that underscores the dedication, diversity, and depth of Jamaica’s dental health workforce and this year’s focus on environmental action.