Campaigners celebrate World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry @10 via virtual meeting
Campaigners under the aegis of World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry on Thursday 11 June 2020 celebrated the 10th year anniversary of the organization that is seeking an end to use of amalgam in dentistry.
The Alliance, founded in 2010 embraced stakeholders from all fields –including dentists, environmentalists, patient advocates, physicians, and others who are working on projects to phase down-and ultimately phase out-the use of amalgam worldwide.
In a slide presentation at the virtual meeting tagged “Marching Toward Mercury-Free Dentistry” viewed by more than 60 participants across the world, President of the group, Charlie Brown, who went down memory lane explained that prior to 2010, non-governmental organizations were fighting for mercury-free dentistry separately in their own countries.
He went further, “then we heard about the upcoming Minamata Convention negotiations, so we founded the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry in 2010”.
The Alliance President explained that the group mission at the onset faced opposition from a well funded, connected dental federation but it persevered at the treaty talks and grew the coalition till victory, when the Minamata Convention requires parties to “phase down the use of dental amalgam”.
While highlighting steps towards implementing the Minamata Convention, Brown listed setting national objectives; raising public awareness; updating dental school curricula; modifying insurance and government programs and ending amalgam use in children and pregnant women.
In a message, Betty Wahlund, on behalf of IPEN, congratulated World Alliance for the hard work and successes recorded in the last 10 years. She said” So nice to see you all! On behalf of IPEN I would just like to congratulate you all for 10 years of hard work and great successes! Keep up the good fight!
Vice-President Africa for the Alliance and the Chairman, African Center for Environmental Health, Dominique Bally KPOKRO, said: “ The World Alliance 10th anniversary is not only showing that the baby has grown but also that it has acquired some skills making it able to perform some achievements. In 10 years, based on the leadership of his President, attorney Charlie Brown; the hard work and commitment of all the members, it has been possible to build a strong relationship with governments, dental professionals, and decision makers at all levels.
“From that relationship, mercury pollution resulting from dental amalgam has become a burning question at international level. Thus, it has been obtained the phase out of this products in so many countries around the world. For Africa region, especially public officials working on Minamata convention, this celebration remembers the starting of a long journey leading to the African amalgam amendment in the text of the Convention. After rejoicing, we can now focus on the future of mercury implementation and strengthening in all nations of the world. That is the good sign that Amalgam is really a History!”
Executive Director, Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev-Nigeria) and the Focal NGO for World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry in Nigeria, Dr. Leslie Adogame, said the global alliance has grown geometrically to all corners of the world.
He said “The Alliance @ 10 is a great and memorable moment for all of us as front liners in the campaign against continued use of ‘mercury amalgam’ in dental filling. The global network has grown geometrically to all corners of the world, recalling how it started. When we started in Nigeria 10 years ago, communicating mercury free dentistry was a difficult one and our ideas could only be understood and accepted from the environment angle. Today, we have succeeded in pulling all stakeholders together to recognizing the problem as a public health issue. This is certainly a win-win towards our journey to ‘make dental amalgam history’ in Africa”.
