Oral health promotion activities for special needs people inKingdom of Tonga since 2005
1,22,32,42,42,42,4Mami Endoh , Reiri Takeuchi ,Sayuri Kawamura , Kohji Kawamura , Kyoko Yokoyama , Chizuru Uchida , Kazuaki

Uchino2,5, Sisilia Fusi Fifita2,6, Chieko Taguchi2,7, Seigo Kobayashi2,8, Takato Nomoto1
1 Departments of Special Needs Dentistry, Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo, Matsudo, Japan
2 South Pacific Medical Team, Kawaguchi, Japan
3 Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo, Matsudo, Japan
4 Kawamura Dental Office, Kawaguchi, Japan
5 Yokohama City University school of Medicine

Introduction

6 Ministry of Health Vaiola Hospita
7 Preventive and Public Oral Health, Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo,
Matsudo, Japan
8 Nihon UniversityActivities＜2005～2007＞
Japanese staffs had decided almost the missions and theschedule of voluntary activities.

The South Pacific Medical Team, a voluntary grouporganised by Japanese dentists, has worked toimprove oral health in Kingdom of Tonga(Tonga)
since 1998. Our team have also supported fordisabled people in two institutions for the disabled or
the special class at a primary school in Tongatapu
Island since 2005. The program for the disabled has
been promoted by the Tongan dental team fromdental office of the Ministry of Health. Japan
Oral check andDonations:
Work shop for staffs(Re) habilitations oforaleducation
toothbrushes
etc.
Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) haveeating＜2008＞
supported us since 2008.
We changed our previous ideas. We spent day time in theinstitutions and had much time to discuss with staffs of theinstitutions and the dental team for finding out their realneeds.

3. Personnel training

Tongan staffs could perform
preparation for donation andmaking education materials,questionnaires , and results etc.
by themselves.
4. Distributing questionnaire survey
How many times do you brush
your teeth a day?
no answer
nothing 5%
3%3times
once
15%
20%

Do you have own toothbrush?
Do you know how to97% Yes!!
brush your teeth?
85% Yes!!
Do you enjoy
our program?

Do you like brush
your teeth?

twice
57%

100% Yes!!

100% Yes!!
n=60＜2012～＞
Home visiting for dependent people at home have started.

Where is Tonga?
The Kingdom of Tonga is part of Polynesia in theSouth Pacific Ocean. It consists of 170 islands divid-ed
into five main island groups: the Tongatapu Islands,
including the capital city; the Ha’apai Islands; theVava’u Islands; the Niua Islands; and the ‘Eua Islands.
These islands are distributed across an area of 600
km north to south and 200 km east to west. In 1998,
the population of Tonga was about 100,000.

Subjects and facilitis

Tongan staffs cameto support positively.

Language exchange
Dancing time
Good relationship built trust♪

They didn't know that theyshould use toothbrush for
each, so we donatedtoothbrush written name.

＜ 2009～ ＞
1. Oral education
Tongan staffs offered oral education for the participants, theirparents and staff of facilities,
Japanese were advisers for them.
2. Donations
We held the oral festival in a flea market on weekend.
・free oral check and oral consultation
・free fluoride mouth rinsing
・Information about our activities
・Sale of handicrafts and clothes

1. Tonga Red Cross Society：CENTER, Home visiting【Intellectual disability(ID), Down‘s syn., Cerebral palsy(CP),etc.】

How many times do you brushDo you know how to brush
your teeth a day?
your teeth?
once a nothing
56% Yes!!
22%
week34%
Do you have
own toothbrush?
oncetwice34%
100% No!!
10%

Have you ever bought
toothbrush or toothpaste?
100% Never!!
Do you enjoy
our program?
100% Yes!!

n=9n=9＜2015＞
OTA’s member had never come to dental hospital, so we haveinvited them and staff of OTA to see and experience dental
office.
1. Orientation of dental treatment for OTA’s member

The Ofa Tui Amanaki Centre (OTA) was established in 1968,and continues to have 3 major programs such as education,home visitation and early intervention program.

Visiting first timeat 2009

2. PETESAITA DISABLED ALONGA CENTRE【Physical disorder, CP, ID, Defness, Autism, etc.】

We made boxes for each toothbrush by materials
bought in Tonga.

We got fluoride toothpastes which wereenough to use for a year.

The ALONGA for adult disabled people was established in1977.

2. Medical Check up: height and weight, blood sugar and bloodpressure

ALONGA’s member had never tested blood sugar etc., so wehave done medical checkup with public nurse at ALONGA.

3. Work shop for participants and staffs of facilities, etc.
We made slides of presentation together, Tongan staffs offered apresentation for them by Tongan language.

3. The special class at Negele’la primary school【Aut, ID, Down's syn,】Conclusion

The class was established in 2004 for primary school kids
with special needs.

Daily oral care

Family，teachers etc
View of life, Sense of value
for everybody

2. Prevention for oral disease and dysfunction① Oral education

Trust

4. Care unit in the paediatric ward at the Viola’s hospital【Premature baby, Baby with cleft lip and palate】

Vaiola Hospital is the main hospital in Tonga, situated on
Taufa'ahau Road on the outskirts of the capital city,
Nuku'Alofa.

Share time,communication

Tooth brushingconsultation② Fluoride application

Education using drawing：We bought notebooks by money fromflea market.
③ (Re) habilitations of eating

Ethics and research committee’s No.: Kingdom of Tonga 04/2013, Nihon university school of Matsudo 07-012, Kyushu dental university 13-47

SPMT

Tonagan staffsJapanesenational character

View of life, Sense of value
for everybody

Cooperation～2007

2008～presentfuture

SPMT-introductionof managements

Cooperation withTongan and SPMT

Build self-relianceamong local people

We have the relationship of mutual trust and good
cooperation with them by long term activities. We hope
this program is performed by self-reliance among Tonganpeople.