In conjunction with the World Oral Health Day, the University Dental Hospital Sharjah (UDHS), and the College of Dental Medicine (CDM) at the University of Sharjah (UOS), organized an awareness day for the elderly at the Hospital, themed: “Be Proud of your Mouth”, aiming to shed light on the importance of oral health care for the elderly and its impact on their quality of life. This event was attended by Prof. Qutayba Hamid, Vice Chancellor for Medical Colleges and Health Sciences, and the Dean of the College of Medicine, Prof. Ahmad Mohammad Hamdan, Prof. Manal A Awad, Director of UDHS, representatives of the Sharjah Social Services Department (SSSD), faculty, administrative members and college students.

Participants in the awareness day included elderly patients who are treated at UDHS through the SSSD oral health program. The event included several awareness lectures delivered by Dr. Hissa Alshamsi, Clinical Tutor, CDM, the lecture entitled “Oral and Dental Health in the Elderly”. Followed by a lecture given by Dr. Hadia Radwan, Associate Professor, College of Health Sciences. An interactive contest on UAE culture and heritage was also organized by Dr. Mariam Obaid Al Kaabi, Clinical Tutor, CDM.

The cooperation between (UDHS) and (SSSD), is the result of an MOU signed between the two parties, and witnessed by His Highness, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah and President of the UOS, during which the two parties agreed to cooperate on improving and developing services related to oral health care of the elderly Emirati’s living in the Emirate of Sharjah.

It is noteworthy that the UDHS at UOS recently received “Age-Friendly Institutions” title from the Sharjah Age-Friendly Office of the Sharjah Social Services Department, as it fulfilled all the Award’s criteria and requirements.