Saif bin Zayed witnesses launch of OCEAN GHI

Lt. General Sheikh Saif was accompanied by Dr. Abdul Salam Al Madani, Executive Chairman of AEEDC Dubai and Global Scientific Dental Alliance, and Chairman of INDEX Holding; Dr. Robert Edwab, Executive Director of the Greater New York Dental Meeting; in addition to the President of the World Dental Federation; President of The International Academy of Dentistry; and a variety of scientific, medical and educational conferences heads and presidents of associations, universities and trade unions from around the world. On the sidelines of the visit, Sheikh Saif honoured the Aqdar World Summit’s team.

Initiated by INDEX Holding and in line with its responsibility to serve the community, OCEAN – Oral Care Education Across Nations, is the first humanitarian initiative of its kind which aims to improve oral and dental health and eliminate tooth decay around the world.

Sheikh Saif was briefed on the detailed stages of the initiative which seeks to reduce the number of diagnosed tooth decay cases in the region and the world by 50 percent over the first five years, eliminate tooth decay in the region and the world over the next 10 years, all while introducing a global approach to the initiative in cooperation with relevant international institutions under the slogan - ‘From the UAE to the World.’ On this occasion, Dr. Al Madani said, "Through this non-profit Global Humanitarian Initiative, OCEAN aims to reach everyone by offering several services in an effort to raise the level of oral and dental health globally and to achieve the UAE's vision of spreading knowledge and philanthropy. Tooth decay and lack of awareness to oral health are among the most common diseases, because not only of the pain they cause related to the teeth, but also to the health of one’s body in general."

In announcing the details of the programme, the initiative's organising committee explained the mechanism of actions to be followed. OCEAN Initiative will provide training for doctors from all medical specialties to educate the community about the importance of oral health in preventing future diseases. The initiative will be implemented through all medical specialties, benefit associations, schools, and volunteer members who join the initiative to be an integral part of the daily effort needed within treatment and prevention protocols by practitioners in specialised clinics within primary health care clinics, and hospitals in the private sector.

An integral part of OCEAN initiative is to involve the public sector, non-profit institutions, schools, universities, and medical colleges to make them strategic partners in the initiative to achieve the high and unique goals ‘From the UAE to the World,’ in addition to support by private company producers of oral health tools as part of the non-profit community responsibility in assisting the initiative and achieving its noble goals.

Nearly 3.5 billion people worldwide are currently affected by some form of oral disease and 2.3 billion people suffer from tooth decay of their permanent teeth. Over 530 million children are suffering from tooth decay within their primary teeth and those numbers are constantly increasing in underdeveloped nations. Gum disease is now among humanity’s most common diseases, affecting up to 50 percent of the global population Meanwhile, Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan attended the second day of the UAE International Dental Conference and Arab Dental Exhibition – AEEDC Dubai 2022, continuing its momentum as the largest international scientific dental conference and trade exhibition in the world, and further delivering an unforgettable experience.

Sheikh Saif toured the sold-out venue within the Dubai World Trade Centre to witness over 4,800 international brands displaying their products in exhibition halls one through eight with pavilions from 22 different countries. The annual three-day event has already witnessed an incredible turnout from international doctors, specialists, members of dental unions around the world, heads and members of specialised dental associations, and professors and students from well-renowned international dentistry colleges.

AEEDC Dubai is used as a platform by numerous international businesses to showcase their latest advanced technology, innovative products, and smart solutions to thousands of dentists and practitioners from around the world. Numerous scientific lectures, hands-on training, and demonstrations are also conducted throughout the event. Many exhibitors commented on their appreciation to AEEDC Dubai for strengthening the dental industry as a whole and cementing international support for business growth and opportunities.

Dr. Vincenzo Musella, National Cultural Secretary of AIO - Italian Dentistry Association, commented, "Dental culture has always been a fundamental part of building our profession for us. AEEDC and AIO Academy project was born for this reason, focusing on dental excellence. Today, thanks to the notable advances in dentistry, we have new materials and new methods available to put into practice optimal therapies, which can be aesthetic and functional, but above all constant over time.

Dr. Majd Naji, Founder, and Chairman of Liberty Dental Clinic, expressed his enthusiasm for AEEDC Dubai 2022, stating, "I’m glad to be here for the 26th edition of AEEDC Dubai and I’m very happy to see us back to business-as-usual like before the start of the pandemic. It’s amazing to see all these dental companies and clinics attending and having all the doctors and associations connecting again. We wish for continuous success, and we appreciate AEEDC Dubai and AEEDC Dubai Stars for having us this year."

AEEDC Dubai 2022 continues into tomorrow offering prominent lectures from regional and international experts for the most informative and up-to-date occurrences in dentistry today.

Key supporters of AEEDC Dubai include, Dubai Health Authority, Global Scientific Dental Alliance, Arab Dental Federation, Executive Board of the Health Ministers Council for Gulf Cooperation Council States, Gulf Health Council, and many others, and held in strategic partnership with the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, scientific partnership with the Ministry of Health and Prevention, and destination partnership with the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing - Dubai Business Events.

Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan also honoured the Aqdar World Summit’s team for the outstanding success of the third edition of the event held at Expo 2020 Dubai. The honouring, which took place at the Dubai Trade Centre, included work teams, specialised committees as well as the strategic partner of the summit, "Index Holding", and a number of supporters of the summit.