We can support capacity building at the global level through focussing on a particular health discipline in partnership with a wide range of countries and partner organisations.

The Global Dental Taskforce (see case study below) demonstrates that we can take a global leadership role to improve health and well-being in low and middle income countries. This experience also provides a model for how other health disciplines could have a significant impact at this level.

Case Study - Global Dental Taskforce
Recent studies have shown a sharp global increase in dental caries in early childhood, making it the most widespread disease among children, and the commonest cause of surgical intervention (fillings).

A new global dental leadership initiative, based at King’s College London, aims to remedy this situation. The Global Child Dental Fund – a UK based charity chaired by Professor Raman Bedi (former Chief Dental Officer for England and now presently at King’s College London) – builds on the achievements of the Global Child Dental Health Taskforce (GCDHT), which was established in January 2006 in response to the Declaration on Child Oral Health. This was signed by 40 senior dental advisors and chief dental officers, along with representatives from the World Health Organisation.

The declaration called for a global taskforce to raise the profile of the worldwide crisis of dental decay among disadvantaged children. Initial five year funding for the project was given to King’s College London Dental Institute in 2005 by the Department of Health. The charity was subsequently established in 2008 and now drives forward all the activities of
the GCDHT and its mission to improve the dental health of disadvantaged children worldwide.

The work of the charity covers four key areas of activity:

• Establishing national taskforces
• Developing leadership initiatives
• Growing local capability for effective caries management and prevention
• Developing Public Private Partnerships with leading global dental companies

To date the project work has helped around 20 million children. Fourteen countries are now members and over £25 million in additional dental health resources have been obtained for disadvantaged children.