A collaborative initiative between the Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS) and the University of Malta’s Faculty of Dental Surgery has been established on Monday, 22 March 2021, through a Cooperative Agreement signed between the two entities.
This cooperation will eventually launch oral healthcare services for over 500 Maltese children under the care of FSWS, while at the same time providing a new dental training opportunity for clinical undergraduate and post-graduate dentistry students.
This comes in light of the Alternative Care Act, whereby children who are not experiencing a good upbringing within a healthy household environment will be better protected through the offering of such services.
It will also see the Faculty of Dental Surgery conduct educational activities to teach children and their guardians proper oral health, via show and tell type activities, at the various FSWS institutions.
University of Malta Rector, Prof. Alfred J. Vella, said the fruit borne from this agreement will have a long-lasting impact on our nation since it fosters professional excellence on the part of tomorrow’s dentists, while ensuring better healthcare for the younger generations under the care of FSWS.
Whilst the dental visits will be made in the children’s residences, routine dental check-ups will also be held at the clinical facilities of the Faculty of Dental Surgery.
Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery, Prof. Nikolai Attard, said the collaboration will, at all stages, be backed up by research efforts in order to ensure complete patient welfare at all times.
“We are always ready to serve and assist the community we operate in. This exercise is about more than providing oral healthcare service to our children. It is also about maintaining the element of research as a constant in order to always be well-informed about the best treatment and best course of action. Evidence-based research is a cornerstone of our Faculty at University, as is that of giving a substantial opportunity of clinical practice to our students”, he said.
FSWS Chief Executive Officer, Alfred Grixti, and Alternative Care Director, Remenda Grech, attended the signing of this agreement. FSWS welcomed this initiative and acknowledged that this is an example of bringing the national health system as close as possible to where people live and work.
The Directorate for Alternative Care provides an individualised care plan for minors living in out-of-home care and any vulnerable minors who need their services. Taking an overarching perspective, one can see that the Directorate is focusing its energy and work on gaps that were not previously at the forefront of its agendas. FSWS applauds this initiative, which prioritises the medical needs of these children and ensures equal access to all services, regardless of the child's current situation.