World Health Organisation (WHO)
We greatly appreciate the WHO’s recent involvement in the Gudfala Tut Skul Program. In particular, (since 2016), the encouragement and assistance provided by, Port Vila based, Dr Tsogy Bayandorj. In addition, we also take this opportunity to thank the Geneva-based technical officer, Dr Yuriko Harada for her leadership and enthusiasm.
WHO have also employed an oral health coordinator in Port Vila, whose many roles includes the implementation of the Gudfala Tut Program.
The links below provide more information on the impact of the Gudfala Tut Skul Program and the importance of positive oral health habits.
WHO feature article about Gudfala Tut Skul
In their push to promote the benefits of “primary oral health care”, we were encouraged by the feature article written by the World Health Organisation about the Gudfala Tut Skul Program in Vanuatu, titled “Health Tooth School programme in Vanuatu teaches children the importance of clean teeth”1
WHO oral health video featuring the Gudfala Tut Skul Program
Coordinated by WHO Technical Officer, Dr Yuriko Harada, the following video was recently produced. As Dr Harada writes: “Sharing the first oral health story from Vanuatu as part of the People of the Western Pacific series. As a preschool teacher in MeleMaat, Vanuatu, Emily shares her story about teaching children how to brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste to help them develop life-long healthy habits
WORLD ONLINE DATABASE – World Oral Health Country / Area Profile Reports
A world oral health database is maintained by Malmo University in Sweden (on behalf of the WHO) featuring the countries of the world in alphabetical order, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. The database naturally contains information about each country’s oral health and we were really excited to be able to arrange for it to be updated recently on behalf of Vanuatu. In particular, this includes the National Oral Health Survey 2017, The Vanuatu Oral Health Policy 2019-2023, the 20-Week School Brushing Trial 2018, the Gudfala Tut Skul brushing program and the Gudfala Smile Oral Health Nurse Training Program.
Vanuatu Director General Health, 75th WHO World Health Assembly in Davos
Having partnered with the Vanuatu Ministry of Health in coordinating the National Oral Health Survey 2017, the writing of the National Oral Health Policy 2019-2023 and the development of the Gudfala Tut Skul Program, it was very encouraging to hear the Director General of Health’s (Mr Russell Tamata) commitment to oral health and specifically the Gudfala Tut Skul Program.
The excitement was shared by the regional WHO representative and evident in the email received at the time from Dr Yuriko Harada, WHO Technical Officer, May 27 2022 …
FDI World Dental Federation
Representing over one million dentists globally, the Geneva-based FDI, through their World Dental Development Fund, awarded Medical Sailing Ministries a grant of 10,000 Swiss Francs ($AUD14,550) in 2019 to expand the Gudfala Tut program; at that time, still in its infancy.
The grant was specifically to implement Gudfala Tut into at least 10 schools, in each of the two main urban centres, Port Vila and Luganville (where the impact of tooth decay and gum disease is at its worse) as trials to then expand the project into all urban and rural schools in Vanuatu.
Implementation took place between January 2020 -December 2021, with those schools still participating in the program today as a result of additional funding from other sources.
Coming at such an early stage in the development of the Gudfala Tut Skul program, the grant was not only a critical boost to finances, but a tremendous encouragement to continue pressing on.
As an aside, due to the quality of the submission, FDI requested permission from us to use MSM’s grant application as a model for future applicants.
International College of Dentists
As a volunteer organisation, MSM relies on donations, grants and the support of generous individuals and organisations to operate.
Over the past three years (2020, 2021 and 2022) a very special relationship has developed with the International College of Dentists (ICD) and we take this opportunity to say thank you.
The assistance of the ICD has specifically enabled the growth of the Gudfala Tut Skul Program, to the point where 100% of the urban kindies and schools (where oral diseases are more prevalent) in Luganville, (on the island of Espiritu Santo) are now involved.
Plus, funding has enabled MSM to translate all support documents and resources into French, for those sites where this is important.
We also appreciate the opportunity to feature the progress of the Gudfala Tut Skul program in the ICD magazine (p14-16) HERE
As an aside, due to the quality of the submission, FDI requested permission from us to use MSM’s grant application as a model for future applicants.
Australian Dental Industry Association – 2021 Partnership Award
Each year the Australian Dental Industry Association (ADIA) hold a convention for member corporations … all associated in some way with the oral health industry; academics, manufacturers, practitioners … you name it.
In 2021 the convention was in Melbourne, and DentaLife Australia, (our partner in the development of the Gudfala Tut Paste) featured their involvement on their promotional corporate stand.
DentaLife also entered the Gudfala Tut Skul Program in the annual ADIA Awards, and as things turned out … much to the excitement of everyone … they / we … WON!!
As you can see from the photos, it really was a big event, with full credit going to our grassroots, on-the-ground partners at PCV Health and the Vanuatu Ministry of Health for making it happen … where it counts, in the Vanuatu classrooms.
Made in Vanuatu
With the Gudfala Tut Skul Program currently limited to kindy and grade 1 classes, the natural question from the parents and teachers arises when the children enter grade 2 …
“Where can we buy the toothpaste to continue brushing at home??”
… because the children absolutely love the bubble-gum flavour and the pink colour.
As a result, we have acquired two new mixing machines, plus bottle fillers and a
labeller, to ramp up production; in Port Vila.
In addition, we have just received “Made in Vanuatu” recognition from the Vanuatu Department of Trade which will help in a range of areas including import duty exemptions and promotion; opening the door to even bigger potential markets with a view to growing income to support and expand the program.
As an aside, due to the quality of the submission, FDI requested permission from us to use MSM’s grant application as a model for future applicants.
