SEO Riders:
– Leapfrogging Strategy for Mercury-Free Dentistry in Africa
- – Implementing the Minamata Convention’s Children’s Amendment
- – Advancements in Oral Health Policies in Developing Economies
A recent study published in the Journal of Oral Health & Dental Science* introduces a ‘leapfrogging’ strategy aimed at accelerating the implementation of the Children’s Amendment to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, particularly in African nations and other developing economies. This approach advocates for bypassing outdated dental practices by directly adopting mercury-free alternatives, thereby protecting vulnerable populations from mercury exposure.
The Children’s Amendment, effective since September 28, 2023, mandates parties to the Minamata Convention to eliminate or discourage the use of dental amalgam—a material containing 45–55% mercury—for treating deciduous teeth in children under 15, as well as in pregnant and breastfeeding women. Despite this, only 49% of the 133 parties have complied, with countries like Nigeria yet to implement necessary measures.
The proposed ‘leapfrogging’ strategy encompasses several key actions:
Curriculum Updates: Revise dental education to emphasize mercury-free practices.
Professional Retraining: Conduct workshops and webinars to retrain existing dental practitioners.
Health Insurance Reforms: Adjust policies to support mercury-free dental restorations.
Policy Integration: Incorporate the ‘II-PPP-BPOC’ framework—Integration, Prevention, Promotion, Partnerships, and the WHO Basic Package of Oral Care—into national oral health policies.Professor Godwin Arotiba, lead author and founder of Dentists for a Mercury-Free Africa, emphasizes that adopting this strategy is both feasible and cost-effective, even in regions with limited waste management infrastructure. He asserts that poverty should not justify the continued use of mercury-based dental treatments in underserved communities.
This initiative aligns with broader efforts across Africa, where NGOs and health experts are advocating for the elimination of dental amalgam use among vulnerable groups. For instance, the Sustainable Environment Development Initiative (SEDI) has urged the Nigerian government to enforce the Children’s Amendment and restrict the importation of dental amalgam.
