Osun and Ondo States are the debut locations for Pepsodent’s “Talk to a Dentist” campaign, which is part of the major global toothpaste brand’s continued commitment to raising oral health awareness. The campaign, which will run from September 2024 to October 2024, will see Pepsodent and the Nigerian Dental Association (NDA) engage several community leaders, including Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, who expressed his enthusiastic reception for the effort.
Oiza Gyang, Marketing Head of Oral Care at Unilever Nigeria, discussed the campaign and said that its goal was to provide free consultations and treatments to democratise access to dental care.
According to her: “This innovative approach empowers more people to prioritize their oral health. With 3.9 billion people worldwide affected by tooth decay, it is heartening to see Pepsodent leading the fight against oral diseases in Nigeria by providing free oral health education, screenings, and treatments.”
Gyang underlined Pepsodent’s dedication to tackling Nigeria’s pervasive lack of access to dental care, which has led to untreated illnesses like cavities that have a major negative impact on productivity and quality of life. She said: “It is imperative for everyone to take oral hygiene seriously. Limited access to dental care has led to a rise in preventable oral health issues.”
Furthering, Gyang also noted that the NDA has been essential in helping to address these issues, emphasising that Pepsodent’s collaboration with dentists for community outreach and care has given millions of Nigerians the confidence to take better care of their teeth. She went on to say that the campaign’s national launch is a significant step towards establishing Pepsodent as a pioneer in democratising access to dental care.
Pepsodent’s Brand Manager, Mary Gbemisola Akindola, reaffirmed the company’s dedication to ending oral illnesses through its collaboration with the NDA, saying: “With a dentist-to-population ratio of 1:54,000 in Nigeria—far above the World Health Organization’s recommendation of 1:7,500—many Nigerians would not receive necessary dental care without programs like this.”
Speaking at the same event, Dr. Tope Adeyemi, President of the Nigerian Dental Association (NDA), said that given Unilever’s long-term investment in this and other ambitious projects, the company’s contribution to enhancing oral health in Nigeria through dental hygiene and healthcare services cannot be overstated.
According to Dr. Adeyemi, the association will keep collaborating closely with Unilever to improve oral health care across the country. He said: “Over the years, the association has been involved in various outreach programs and campaigns to raise awareness about oral health. We have organized free dental clinics and oral hygiene education programs for schools and underserved and underprivileged communities. These initiatives have contributed significantly to improving access to Oral health care and oral health literacy in Nigeria.”
The “Talk to a Dentist” campaign has made stops at Okitipupa, Ondo West, Akure South, Odigbo, Ife Central, Ife East, Ife North, and Osogbo, among other local government districts in Ondo and Osun States, BrandSpur national news brand reports.
