A groundbreaking project aims to tackle a critical yet often overlooked health issue in Myanmar: the high prevalence of dental caries among young children. Recent findings from Myanmar’s first national oral health survey highlighted alarmingly high rates of dental decay in primary teeth, with only 15% of six-year-olds being caries-free. A study conducted in urban Yangon further revealed that over 82% of preschoolers aged 3-4 had already experienced tooth decay. These findings spotlight the urgent need for targeted interventions to improve oral health outcomes in early childhood.
In response, a school-centred oral health initiative has been developed, focusing on preschool children in Yangon city. The project, set to involve 772 children aged 4-5 across eight preschools, aims to establish a sustainable model that could eventually expand nationwide. It will implement four key programmes:
Oral Health Surveillance System: the dental health of children will be monitored though bi-annual dental examinations.
Oral Health Education: oral health literacy among children and their families will be improved through parental engagement and the use of age-appropriate resources.
Fluoride Mouth Rinsing Programme: A cost-effective fluoride mouth rinsing initiative will be supervised by trained teachers to prevent further decay.
Clean & Green Preschool Environment: This component will address environmental sustainability, promoting hygiene, sanitation, and waste management in schools.
By integrating these programmes, the project not only aims to reduce dental caries but also aligns with broader health and environmental goals set out in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Local dentists, teachers and parents will play a pivotal role, with the findings informing policy development for a potential national rollout.
The WHO Collaborating Centre for Translation of Oral Health Science, Niigata University will be leading the project, collaborating with a team of eight individuals, with representation from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement. The government personnel will oversee policy development, while the results will be shared widely in academic circles to influence future health strategies. This project represents a significant step toward improving oral health in Myanmar and could serve as a model for similar initiatives in low-income countries worldwide.
The Borrow Foundation is providing additional resources, over a four-year period, to undertake oral health surveillance and oral health education elements of the project as the infrastructure and personnel are already in place.
 Kaung Myat Thwin (PI), Assistant Professor WHO Collaborating Centre for Translation of Oral Health Science, Niigata University |  Hiroshi Ogawa, Technical Supervisor, Chief and Professor WHO Collaborating Centre for Translation of Oral Health Science, Niigata University |