Residents of Dennery and surrounding communities now have improved access to oral healthcare following the reintroduction of dental services at the La Ressource Wellness Centre.
The initiative by the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Nutrition forms part of a broader effort to decentralise healthcare services and bring treatment closer to communities across the island.
Health Minister Moses Jn Baptiste said the move reflects the government’s commitment to expanding access while improving convenience for residents.
“When you bring dental services to the Dennery Valley at the La Ressource Wellness Centre, which last year we re-established, refurbished and rebuilt, it says that you are expanding dental care services but also making it accessible to the people of the Dennery Valley,” he said.
He noted that many residents previously had to travel to other facilities to receive care.
“Most of these people would have accessed dental care at the Dennery Hospital and we are now bringing the services closer to them,” Baptiste added.
Senior Dental Surgeon at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Sherry Ephraim-Le Compte, said the dental team is prepared to deliver a wide range of services to patients of all ages.
“Our dental team is very competent and they are excited to provide services not just to children but to everybody, to all age groups,” she said.
She emphasised that the programme will not only focus on treatment but also prevention and education.
“Their main goal is to raise awareness and provide dental education to improve and promote good oral health behaviours,” she explained.
Dr Ephraim-Le Compte added that essential procedures will be made readily available to the community.
“They are also going to provide examinations, cleanings, fillings and extractions, those services that are tremendously needed in the community,” she said.
Parliamentary Representative for Dennery North, Shawn Edward, welcomed the development but stressed the importance of sustained outreach and public education.
“I know we have had a lot of dental health issues in the Mabouya Valley and we have the statistics to prove it,” Edward said.
He called for continued engagement beyond clinical services to ensure residents fully benefit from the initiative.
“Much more than just coming here on the days when patients will be screened and attended to, I want there to be a community outreach programme, an education programme that would speak of the availability of the service and the benefits that can be derived,” he stated.
The restoration of dental services at the La Ressource Wellness Centre is expected to improve access to care, promote preventive health practices and reduce the burden on centralised medical facilities.