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Oral health alliance supports water fluoridation
13 December 2006
The Queensland Oral Health Alliance has affirmed its commitment to water fluoridation as a safe and effective public health measure for Queenslanders.
The alliance represents doctors, pharmacists, dentists and public health professionals who are members of the Queensland branches of the Australian Dental Association (ADAQ), the Australian Medical Association (AMA Queensland), the Pharmaceutical Society (PSA) and the Public Health Association Australia.
Representing the ADAQ, Dr Robert McCray said the alliance is concerned that Queensland is on the cusp of a major oral health crisis exacerbated by poor diet and oral hygiene as well as inadequate access to health care and fluoridated water.
The Health of Queenslanders Report 2006 released this week showed tooth decay is the single most common childhood illness, with Queensland children having significantly higher decay than the national average.
Only 5 percent of Queenslanders have access to fluoridated water, compared with 90 percent in New South Wales, 86 percent in Western Australia, 100 percent in the ACT, 70 percent in the Northern Territory, 80 percent in South Australia and 91 percent in Tasmania.
Dr McCray said the historical and political factors that have left most Queenslanders without access to fluoridated water must be resolved as a matter of urgency.
AMA Queensland president Dr Zelle Hodge joined Dr McCray in calling for the issue to be resolved, saying water fluoridation was one of the most important, effective, and equitable public health initiatives for all age groups.
“The State Government has shown it is supportive of water fluoridation in Queensland, but it needs to show leadership on this issue,” she said.
Dr Hodge said a collective response from communities and government was necessary to overcome societal factors that impacted on the public health of the community.
“Fluoride, a naturally-occurring element, has long been recognised as a key to reducing health inequalities to achieve socially-inclusive public health principles,” she said.
“This is about more than just health - it is about health equity, and the right every Queenslander has to that.”
On behalf of the PSA, Warren Blee said water fluoridation is an important part of the total package that is required to achieve good oral health outcomes for all.
For comment, contact Dr Robert McCray on 0412 145 771 or Dr Hodge on 3872 2221 or 0400 110 565.
Statement prepared by ADAQ media consultant Jane Milburn 0408 787 964.
All of the information included on this web site is accurate to the best of knowledge of the Australian Dental Association (Queensland Branch). To make the text more readable for non-scientists, ADAQ has deliberately minimised attributions and links to supporting files or scientific attachments. However these sources are readily available if required and many can be found via www.health.qld.gov.au/fluoride. |
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