UAE becomes the first country to approve innovative oral treatment for vitiligo

The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (Mohap) has begun implementing a project to check the oral health and teeth condition of kindergarten first-graders (KG1) in public educational institutions across the country.

This project is being carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Emirates Health Services (EHS) and aims to identify dental and oral health problems before children enter primary school.

Families can have their children examined at public medical centers managed by EHS or at private medical facilities. The check will include an examination for caries, gum diseases, and other conditions that could negatively affect the child's health, development, and ability to learn.

Officials noted that this initiative is designed to make regular dental check-ups an integral part of caring for children's health from an early age, preventing the need to seek help only after pain or symptoms appear.

Dr. Hussain Al Rand, Assistant to the Deputy Minister of Public Health Sector in Mohap, emphasized that the project reflects a national priority in prevention. He stated that 'promoting oral and dental health from preschool age helps form healthy habits that will stay with children throughout their lives.'

Al Rand also noted that families play a key role in monitoring children's health and encouraging daily habits that support oral health, alongside the efforts of the education and health sectors.

This initiative aligns with the UAE's plans for preventive medicine and the World Health Organization's oral health strategy for 2023–2030, which calls for greater attention to early detection and prevention.

Tarek Al Hashimi, Assistant to the Deputy Minister of School Operations in Dubai and Northern Emirates of the Ministry of Education, stated that health status is closely linked to children's readiness to learn. He added that the ministry will continue to collaborate with partners on projects that promote prevention among students and families from the earliest stages of education.

Al Hashimi stressed: 'Health supports children's readiness to learn, improving their ability to participate and engage, and allowing them to maximize their educational experience.'

Dr. Essam Al Zarouni, Executive Director of the Medical Services Sector in EHS, reported that conducting screenings through EHS centers will help detect problems in a timely manner and refer children in need to the appropriate services. He also specified that EHS will link this screening to health awareness and subsequent follow-up to ensure continuity of care during the early stages of children's growth and development.

The Council of Ministers of Mozambique confirmed that the country has sufficient supplies of essential medicines for the next two years, despite persistent reports of drug and reagent shortages in various health units.

Inocêncio Impissa, spokesperson for the Council of Ministers, declared during the 31st ordinary session of the body, held in Maputo, that after receiving all requests, there will be no problems with the lack of basic medicines for at least the next two years.

Impissa informed that the first batch of medicines purchased by the health sector has already been received and that new shipments are expected soon. He admitted that temporary disparities in medicine availability may occur between provinces, districts, or health units due to the ongoing distribution process.

The spokesperson stressed that the overall supply of the system is guaranteed, adding that districts closest to the provincial medicine depot should already be receiving the items. The guarantee extends to vital medicines for the normal functioning of public health services and personal protective equipment, as requested by professionals.

The situation of interruption of health services in Mozambique, caused by frequent failures of essential medicines and supplies, occurs at a time of system fragility due to cuts in external funding, according to a report released in September.

This alert comes from a report by the Mozambique Health Cluster, a coordination platform for humanitarian assistance in the health sector, coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and involving UN agencies and other entities operating on the ground, especially in Cabo Delgado, in northern Mozambique.

The document entitled 'Medicine Supply Chain in Mozambique: Ensuring Supply Amid Funding Uncertainty' points out that 79% of interviewed organizations reported constant or recurring absences of medicines and other crucial products in health units. Furthermore, half of these organizations indicated that such disruptions exceed one month.

Among the most affected items are antibiotics, analgesics, contraceptives, gloves, and wound dressings. Those responsible for the report warn that this scarcity not only leads to delays in care but often results in the complete paralysis of services for patients.

The study's authors advocate for greater articulation among donors, more stable funding for the entire medical supply chain, and support for migration to national funding sources, aiming to reduce dependence on external aid and ensure greater stability in population access to healthcare and medicines.

During the week dedicated to the national campaign for oral and dental health, which took place from October 17 to 23 across the country, the Ministry of Health provided various dental services.

The main focus of the campaign was on education, self-help, prevention, and raising awareness about the importance of oral health. The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, conducted oral hygiene educational events in schools to improve the knowledge of children and their families in this area.

Dental check-ups were carried out in schools, focusing on proper tooth brushing, application of fluoride varnish, encouraging healthy habits, and referring those needing further treatment to medical centers.

With the help of school health ambassadors and medical workers in educational institutions, students were informed about proper nutrition, as well as how to brush and use dental floss correctly.

According to Zahra Korbani, an employee of the Ministry of Health, dental services were provided not only in schools but also in rural and urban areas with populations under 20,000. Pregnant women, mothers with children under two years old, and children up to 14 years old received free oral health packages and dental treatment.

Korbani also reported that in other cities, dental services were offered with medical insurance covering 70 percent of total expenses. These services included tooth extraction, fillings, professional cleaning, and preventive care.

The employee emphasized that the Ministry of Health's programs are not limited to the oral health week; the ministry strives to improve both the accessibility and quality of services by modernizing equipment, supplying necessary materials, and deploying dentists to areas lacking specialists.

Addressing the high costs of dental treatment, Korbani noted that the primary task of the Ministry of Health is to prevent diseases and reduce the need for expensive medical care. To preserve natural teeth, promote oral health, and lessen the financial burden, dental services should target people at an early age while increasing access to necessary treatment.

The weekly event was held under the slogan 'Don't forget two times two, brush your teeth two minutes twice a day,' as stated on the Ministry of Health website. Furthermore, the Ministry of Health utilized the potential of dental clinics, mass media, and social networks to conduct educational and preventive programs related to oral health, aiming to popularize self-help and increase public literacy on oral health matters.

Korbani mentioned that in the past Iranian year, the program was implemented in about 34,000 schools, providing services to over three million students nationwide, according to January data.

World Oral Health Day (WOHD) is observed annually on March 20 to provide people with the tools and knowledge to prevent and control oral diseases that affect nearly 3.5 billion people worldwide. It encourages people to take care of their oral health by maintaining good hygiene and managing risk factors.

The theme of WOHD 2026, 'Happy Mouth – Happy Life,' focused on oral health as the foundation of lifelong well-being—from a baby's first teeth to maintaining a healthy smile in old age.