Award winners
Year 2024
Most educational activity
Saudi Dental Society
The Saudi Dental Society organized a series of activities to celebrate WOHD, hosting over 40 major events across the nation. The primary goals were to enhance public oral health literacy and encourage individuals to manage chronic oral conditions and diseases. These events were primarily held in high-traffic areas like malls, where dentists, dental interns, and experts conducted oral health check-ups, and provided treatment suggestions. Oral health awareness exhibits and promotional materials were on display at the event sites, and more than 25,000 oral health gift hampers were distributed. In total, these initiatives reached over 30,362 people, including residents and students. The general public not only gained valuable knowledge about oral health care and disease prevention but also became more aware of the importance of prioritizing oral health at a societal level. This contributed to the promotion of better oral health practices across the community.
Best media campaign
The Ghana Dental Association
The Ghana Dental Association (GDA) launched a series of powerful initiatives for WOHD, engaging over 5,000 people to raise awareness and improve access to oral health services. Their initiatives were prominently featured across various media platforms, including online, print, radio, and TV, achieving significant impact and high-level engagement.
GDA spearheaded a dynamic social media campaign promoting healthy practices such as brushing twice daily, flossing regularly, and limiting sugary drinks. By collaborating with FDI’s official WOHD ambassadors and influencers, Dr. Michael Awua and Dr. Louisa Ansong, and involving the community in the #BrushandBoogie Challenge, GDA greatly amplified FDI’s efforts at the local level. Their outreach was further boosted through partnerships with major media houses, resulting in Ghana becoming one of the top countries for social media engagement on the social media platform X (previous Twitter) for WOHD. In addition to their media campaign, GDA focused on advocacy efforts to secure government funding for school dental programs, aiming to expand access to preventive care for children and low-income individuals.
Overall, the GDA's comprehensive approach to WOHD not only raised awareness and promoted positive oral health behaviors through widespread media coverage but also made substantial strides in improving community access to essential dental services.
Most Engaging Community Campaign
Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences
MAIDS celebrated WOHD 2024 with a range of activities aimed at promoting oral health awareness and practices at the patient, institutional, and community levels.
At the patient level, initiatives included role plays to educate children and parents about the importance of oral health and tobacco cessation, along with oral health exhibitions and educational sessions in patient waiting areas. At the institutional level, training sessions were conducted for nursing professionals to enhance their knowledge about oral health and tobacco cessation.
MAIDS was also deeply involved at the community level, conducting 10 screening camps and checkups, as well as launching extensive social media campaigns. Their online presence was further strengthened through media activations, including TV and radio show participation.
Through these coordinated efforts, MAIDS significantly amplified the campaign message that "A Happy Mouth is A Happy Body," making a substantial impact on oral health awareness and care across Delhi. The campaign was highly effective in engaging the public.
Best Campaign by a Dental Students Association
Student Association of the Faculty of Dental Medicine of the University of Porto
The Student Association made a thorough effort to celebrate WOHD through a series of impactful activities. One key initiative was the "Myth and Truth" social media campaign, which aimed to educate different audiences by addressing misconceptions on oral health with evidence-based insights. Additionally, the association conducted community screenings for the entire University of Porto community, ensuring access to quality oral healthcare for all members, regardless of financial circumstances. To reach a broader audience, the association organized visits to schools and local associations, where workshops were held to educate young students about the importance of oral health. A debate session was also organized where students engaged in discussions on oral health myths and truths, supported by brief scientific presentations. These interactive gatherings aimed to provide a comprehensive exploration of oral health topics, promoting informed decision-making and healthy behaviours.
These activities were crucial in raising the visibility of the WOHD campaign within the University of Porto community. They significantly increased awareness about dental health and provided valuable opportunities for individuals to monitor and improve their oral health through free screenings and personalized advice.