Health Minister Dr. Paul Popora Bosawai sharing his intervention at the 76th RCM
SI COMMITTED TO IMPLEMENTING THE GLOBAL STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN ON ORAL Health
“Solomon Islands is committed to implementing the Global Strategy and action plan on oral health 2023-2030 and is further committed to action the Bangkok Declaration as part of the regional vision of Weaving Health for Families, Communities and Societies in the Western Pacific Region (2025-2029)”.
The Health Minister Honourable Dr. Paul Popora Bosawai highlighted this in his intervention to Oral Health at the Western Pacific 76th Regional Committee Meeting (RCM), in Nandi, Fiji.
“In demonstrating our commitment, Solomon Islands took a pioneering role in the Western Pacific by conducting the first-ever trial of the WHO Oral Health Training Toolkit for Primary Health Care (PHC) Workers. This landmark initiative—organized by the World Health Organization Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO)—marks a transformative step toward integrating essential oral health care into the foundation of universal health coverage.
“In our efforts to strengthening workforce capacity through training and task-sharing under the initiative, local dentists in Honiara have trained primary health care workers from eight Honiara City Council clinics in preventive oral health techniques early this month. The training focused on oral examinations, hygiene counselling, fluoride varnish applications, silver diamine fluoride use for caries arrest, fissure sealants, and restorative care using glass ionomer cement—all designed for delivery in primary care settings without sophisticated equipment. It is envisaged that lessons drawn from the pilot training in Solomon Islands’ experience will inform the finalization of the WHO Oral Health Training Toolkit”, said Dr Bosawai.
Therefore, Dr. Bosawai said Solomon Islands Ministry of Health is preparing the necessary requirements for the inclusion of dental medicines and preparations in the National Essential Medicine list as of 2026. These include fluorides, glass ionomer, and silver diamine fluoride.
Moreover, he added increasing dental outreach services, expanding prevention and early screening in schools is a key priority.
“In progressing and implementing this priority, the national dental services has conducted and supervised tooth brushing program in two primary schools in Honiara as model schools in our health promoting school initiative.
“Once this is successful, we anticipate that this initiative will be rolled out program to other schools around the country. Meanwhile, Solomon Islands continues to do oral examinations in primary schools and provide school children with free tooth brushes and toothpastes, oral health education and tooth brushing demonstration”, said Dr. Bosawai.
Nevertheless, he said Solomon Islands recognizes the linkages between NCD and Oral Health and as such have integrated Oral Diseases in the Solomon Islands Non-Communicable Diseases and Multi-Sectorial Policy and Road Map 2025 – 2030.
“Looking ahead, we plan to conduct a National Oral Health Survey in 2027 to provide updated epidemiological data and guide evidence-based policy, strategic planning and budgeting for oral services in the country. We request a partnership and technical support from WHO and other donor partners to support the cause and weave the mat together in oral health”, said Dr. Bosawai.
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