Residents of Dennery and its surrounding communities now have renewed access to essential oral healthcare, as the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Nutrition has formally reestablished dental services at the newly reopened La Ressource Wellness Centre. The services are available to both children and adults, representing a significant step forward in the Ministry’s ongoing effort to decentralize healthcare and bring services directly to the communities that need them most.

To mark the occasion, senior officials from the Ministry of Health visited the La Ressource Wellness Centre, where they were joined by the Parliamentary Representative for Dennery North, Hon. Shawn Edward. The Minister for Health, Wellness and Nutrition, Hon. Moses Jn Baptiste, described the reestablishment of dental services at the La Ressource Wellness Centre as part of a deliberate strategy to bring healthcare to communities. “When you bring dental services to the Dennery Valley at the La Ressource Wellness Centre, which last year we reestablished, refurbished, rebuilt, it says that you are expanding dental care services, but also you are making it accessible to the people of the Dennery Valley. Most of these people would have accessed dental care at the Dennery Hospital, and we are now bringing the services closer to them. I’m very proud of the team, I’m very proud of Dr Ephraim and her team, the CMO’s office and so on, and the work that the dental surgeons and the dental hygienists and the dental assistants and everyone.”

The Dental Unit at La Ressource Wellness Centre is equipped and staffed to deliver comprehensive oral health services across all age groups. Senior Dental Surgeon Dr. Sherry Ephraim-Le Compte outlined the team’s scope and priorities.“Our dental team, they’re very competent, and they are excited to provide services, not just to children, but to everybody, to all age groups. Importantly, their main goal is to raise awareness, provide dental education, to improve and promote good oral health behaviors. They’re also going to provide examinations, cleanings, feelings, extractions, those services that are tremendously needed in the community.”

Parliamentary Representative for Dennery North, Hon. Shawn Edward, welcomed the development with both gratitude and a challenge to the Ministry urging that the reestablishment of services be accompanied by robust community outreach and public education to ensure that Dennery residents are not only aware of the facility but actively encouraged to use it.“I know we’ve had a lot of dental health issues in the Mabouya Valley and we have the statistics to prove it. But much more than just coming here on the days when patients will be screened, will be attended to, I want for there to be a community outreach program, an education program that would speak of the availability of the service and the benefits that can be derived from such services as discharged by the Ministry of Health. So I’m an extremely proud parliamentary rep, I’m elated and I’m also extremely grateful to Team Health for making this service available to the people of my constituency.”