Report: 35 percent students have oral health issues

Results of Medical Screening Program have revealed that a high percentage of students in grade one of schools of Maldives experience health issues related to mouth.

Results of Medical Screening Program that was commenced in February 2014 by Ministry of Health and Ministry of Defense were revealed in an event held on Wednesday.

A total of 6,331 students who were studying in grade one of schools in Male’ and Atolls were screened in the Medical Screening Program.

According to the statistics of the first country wide Health Screening Program, 1,650 students of grade one were experiencing various health issues related to mouth. Dental Carries were the commonest issue among them. In that regard, most of the students with this issue were reported to be in Haa Dhaalu, Thaa, and Laamu atoll.

Next commonest issue in the students of grade one were health issues related to eyes and ears.

While 950 issues were recorded as health issues related to ears in Maldives, highest percentage of the cases were reported from Dhaalu Atoll.

Among the students screened, 7.17 percent of the students were reported as students with various health problems related to eyes while 286 students had skin related health issues, and these percentages were highest in Male’ City.

In the event held at Dharubaaruge on Wednesday to share the results of Medical Screening Program conducted for students of Grade one in 2014, Vice President Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed said that this program would be widened to students of Grade eight as well, from next year onward.