In Sumnary, essentialiy no dental services are provided outside of tne
two urban
centers.
A traditional
lack
of
fluoride
and
an
increasing
consumption of refined sugar has produced an epidemic of dental disease.
A
systematic program of fluoride application, early detection and treatment,
and dietary education is needed to slow down the epidemic.
The existing
dental
Joad
staff may be
able
to
handle
the
additional
work
through
reorganization, but the transportation limitations make this impractical
for many atolls.
Recommendations
1.
Improve the equipment and supplies at Majuro and Ebeye so adequate
secondary level dental care is available at each site.
2.
Add selected manpower (see section IX) to provide for more effective
working ratios.
3.
Develop in-service education, either in-nation or abroad, to maintain
skills in each area.
4.
Incorporate
the
application,
early
education
assistants
dental
public
detection
and
into the curriculum and
(medex)
health
functions
simple
extractions,
of
fluoride
and
dietary
in-service education for medical
and health assistants so these services can be
available on outer islands through the regular health network.
2.
Physical Therapy
The services of a physical therapist are extremely important in the
management of some acute and many chronic conditions.
As the categories of
disease change more and more to that found in industrialized societies with
more of the cardiovascular health problems, there is more and more need for
physical therapy services.
orthopedic disabilities.
Services are needed for victims of "stroke" and
At the present time there is need of physical
therapy for victims of polio with varying degrees of paralysis.
and will
always be a need for physical
injuries
to
prevent
deformity
and
There is
therapy services for traumatic
maximize
residual
function.
Many
contractures and functional limitations could be eliminated or reduced with
appropriate physical therapy begun shortly after injuries or burns.
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