Food 4 Africa Wits University program A joint project to look after primary health in rural areas - the Community Oral Health Outreach Programme (COHP) It is done with mobile clinics staffed by volunteers who want to put something back into the community. Physical examinations Dentistry - Treat of minor ailments
Executive Summary COHOP applies the Primary Health Care Approach with its emphasis on equity, health promotion and disease prevention, basic care and pain relief. It applies appropriate technology and the effective use of auxiliary personnel with the support of a dentist. COHOP provides a high standard of basic dentistry; one of its objectives is creating a greater awareness and knowledge of oral health, and encouraging self responsibility in the use of proven preventative measures and methods. The service has a community centred approach reflecting a developmental model of health care delivery. Community Based Services includes oral screening for caries, periodontal disease and oral manifestations of HIV/AIDS; Oral health education and brushing programmes in schools; The services includes the Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) which applies appropriate technology to restore many teeth that would otherwise be extracted; scaling and polishing; fissure sealants; extractions; medication and referrals and treatment for HIV/AIDS patients. Tens of thousands of children and adults have been served. Currently the service has been limited to Gauteng and to some extent in the North West Province. Using a Mobile Dental Unit (MDU), COHOP renders oral care in those areas where dental facilities are neither available, accessible or affordable to the community.
COHOP facilitates clinical training for clinicians in the public dental service as well as dentists, dental therapists, and undergraduate dental and oral hygienist students. An exciting initiative has been the training of Traditional healers, nurses and lay care givers.
COHOP research contributes to further knowledge in health services and the effective implementation of WHO endorsed treatments such as minimal intervention dentistry and serves as an important platform for research and treatment for HIV/AIDS and oral health.
COHOP collaborates closely with community members and other agencies and organisations, during planning, development and rendering of service. Issues involving the community include: safe, central and accessible sites for the service; building capacity for selected community members and liaison with local authorities regarding integration of COHOP activities into existing services.
The COHOP programme has evoked interest in the media and several articles have appeared in newspapers and magazines one of which was published in the March 2004 edition of Arena; the Wits Alumni Magazine. A number of documentary video programmes have been produced.
The interest generated by the work of COHOP to the public attention has created an awareness of the important work of the project, which has resulted in generous support from the donor community. However, the ever increasing need amongst many communities, particularly children, HIV/AIDS for these oral health services has resulted in our Division being constantly approached for provision of much needed services. Due to the socio-economic status of the communities served, COHOP is unable to generate income and therefore wishes to involve the Gauteng Dept of Health in its work. The participation and support of the Department of Health, Gauteng Provincial Government, would be appropriate and advantageous in meeting the objectives of the Division of Public Oral Health. COHOP has demonstrated that it is an effective and viable “vehicle” of making oral care services accessible and available to large numbers of school children and adults. Download Community Oral Health Outreach Programme Business Plan. | 
