End Infant Oral Mutilation

Infant oral mutilation (IOM) is a dangerous and sometimes fatal traditional dental practice undertaken in children that can have very serious health consequences.

This is undertaken by many indigenous African tribes, mainly from East and central Africa.It involves the removal of the canine milk teeth in infants and young children by traditional healers, without anaesthesia and using unsterile tools such as a bicycle spoke, a hot nail or a penknife.The wound is sometimes dressed with concoctions made out of various herbs.

At a meeting of Paediatric Dentistry Association of East Africa, in July 2017, a declaration was made to eliminate the practice of IOM in the region. Professor Raman Bedi was invited by the Association to officiate the conference opening. The delegates at the meeting agreed to make a call to action to stop IOM, and proposed amongst other things, a formation of a multi-agency collaboration that would help achieve the goal within the next 10 years.

Click here to see Professor Raman Bedi explain more about about this important campaign to stop Infant Oral Mutilation and how you can help.