Bila Muuji – Oral Health Workshop
Bila Muuji Health Service Incorporated conducted an Oral Health workshop on 23rd and 24th November 2011 for the Health Workers from the Bila Muuji regions. Suman Kavooru, the Bila Muuji Oral Health Promotional Co-ordinator organized the event and Grace Toomey, a Wiradjuri Elder, opened proceedings with a ‘Welcome to Country ‘.
The purpose of the workshop was to:
- update the Bila Muuji oral health plan
- discuss the challenges and solutions in delivering oral health promotion in the region
- provide updated general oral health knowledge
- provide relevant information for those who are interested in advancing their career in oral health activities
- to discuss how to develop appropriate oral health promotion resources for Bila Muuji.
Bila Muuji is made up of ten Aboriginal Health Services and of these Orange, Wellington, Bourke, Coonamble, Walgett, Brewarrina, Dareton and Dubbo attended.
Representatives from various organizations who addressed the meeting were:
- Marie Wilson Centre for Oral Health Strategy
- Terry Smith AH&MRC Aboriginal Health College
- Lenore Tuckerman Colgate
- Albert Ryan Western NSW LHD
- Dr Sandra Meihubers Bila Muuji
- Jenni Floyd Western NSW LHD
Definitive actions to result from the workshop:
- Health workers to take the lead in conducting oral health promotion
- Support for Bila Muuji to develop a fluoride varnish training program with training from the AHC
- Development of protocols for the school brushing program
- Bila Muuji newsletter – every three months
- Collaborating with other staff and program coordinators – home visits with midwives and other staff
- Educating the parents
- Staff training in Lift the Lip program.
