HOPE SMILES steps up dental services in Pader District

13 February 2026, 8:31 am

By Luo FM reporter

HOPE SMILES, a non-governmental organization, has intensified efforts to improve oral health in Pader District through community dental outreaches and health education programs.

Speaking to our reporter, the organization’s founder, Julius Peter Ocen, said the initiative targets vulnerable residents who cannot afford dental treatment outside the district.

Ocen noted that tooth-related illnesses are more prevalent in Pader than in other parts of the Acholi Sub-region, forcing many patients to seek costly services in Gulu, Kitgum, and Lira.

He revealed that 1,115 patients were treated during two recent dental camps at Pajule Health Centre IV, while another 900 received services at Atanga Health Centre III, both in Aruu North Constituency.

Ocen added that the next dental camp is scheduled for May at either Pader Health Centre III or Acol Pii, with outreach services expected to reach Lokole Sub County in neighboring Agago District in November 2026.

Meanwhile, Pader District Health Inspector Ronald Okot has urged residents to maintain good oral hygiene, saying it helps prevent tooth decay, toothache, and bad breath.

He advised brushing after meals and before bedtime, explaining that tooth pain often worsens at night because reduced activity allows bacteria to become more active.

Okot also noted that dental services remain limited at lower-level health facilities, despite Health Centre IVs being structurally mandated to have qualified dental officers — a capacity many facilities currently lack.

HOPE SMILES continues to encourage communities to turn up in large numbers whenever dental camps are announced.