Kenya has renewed calls for oral health to be given more attention in the global fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Speaking at a UN General Assembly side event in New York, Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga said oral health is closely linked to conditions such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease, yet remains neglected in health planning.
“Nearly half of the world’s population lives with oral diseases. We cannot win the battle against NCDs if oral health continues to be left out of the conversation,” he said.
Dr. Oluga outlined Kenya’s progress, citing the National Oral Health Policy (2022–2030) and Strategic Plan, the inclusion of oral health in next year’s National STEP Survey, and training of community health promoters.
He also noted the impact of Colgate’s Bright Smiles, Bright Futures programme, which has reached more than 15 million children in the country.
The event, hosted by Colgate-Palmolive at Goals House, brought together leaders and experts, including WHO Foundation CEO Anil Soni, Save the Children US President Janti Soeripto, and Colgate’s Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Maria Ryan.
