The World Health Organisation (WHO) says only 17 per cent of people in the Africa currently have access to essential oral health services.
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The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Mohamed Janabi, disclosed this in a message to commemorate World Oral Health Day 2026 with theme: “A Happy Mouth is a Happy Life.”
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‎Mr Janabi said that the workforce shortages, chronic underinvestment and insufficient prevention measures, including high sugar consumption and inadequate fluoride exposure, continued to drive preventable oral diseases, especially in underserved areas.
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‎”WHO is supporting countries to transition towards environmentally sustainable and less invasive oral health care, including the phase-out of mercury-containing dental amalgam in line with the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
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‎”Through evidence-based guidance, technical support and new evidence-based approaches, including the recently issued WHO guideline on environmentally-friendly and less invasive oral health.
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‎”WHO is helping expand prevention, strengthen service delivery and integrate essential oral health interventions at the primary care level.”
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‎According to him, improving oral health is fundamental to universal health coverage.

He added that in addition to reducing preventable illnesses, it also lowers long-term costs and improves well-being across the life course.
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‎He stated, “On this World Oral Health Day, I call on governments, partners, academia and civil society to unite to accelerate implementation of national oral health strategies, strengthen workforce capacity and expand access to essential services.
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‎”WHO remains committed to supporting Member States in integrating oral health into national health systems, and advancing equitable access to care.”
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‎He said that on World Oral Health Day 2026, the organisation turns its attention to a silent but widespread health challenge affecting communities across the WHO African Region.
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‎”Oral diseases are among the most common and preventable health conditions, yet they remain one of the most neglected areas of public health.
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‎”Oral diseases, including dental caries, gum disease, tooth loss and the devastating condition Noma, affected 42 per cent of our population in 2021.
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‎”These conditions cause pain, disability and avoidable suffering, while placing sustained pressure on families, communities and health systems,” he said.
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‎According to him, recognising the burden, Member States endorsed the WHO African Regional Framework on Oral Health in 2025.
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‎‎”This framework advances implementation of the WHO Global Oral Health Action Plan, and establishes a clear path towards universal oral health coverage by 2030.
Countries are already translating these commitments into action,” he said.
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‎Mr Janabi said that with financial support from the Borrow Foundation, Ghana, Madagascar, Tanzania and Uganda have developed national oral health strategies to strengthen prevention and service delivery.
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‎He noted, “Ethiopia, with support from Hilfsaktion Noma e.V., has trained more than 850 primary care and community health workers across 10 regions to improve the early detection of noma.
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‎”Also integrating noma surveillance into mass drug administration campaigns that have reached over 2.6 million people nationwide.
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‎”To strengthen national training capacity and build a sustainable oral health workforce, Malawi has established its inaugural Bachelor of Dental Surgery programme, constructed a new dental school, and graduated its first locally-trained dentists.:

He, however, noted that ‎with sustained commitment and investment, the African Region could reduce the burden of oral diseases, and ensure that future generations grow, learn and live free from preventable oral diseases.

(NAN)