GLICO HEALTHCARE, a subsidiary of GLICO GROUP LTD, ¬has held a health seminar on the theme "The Role of Dental Healthcare in the Detection of Systemic Diseases".
In his welcome address, Mr. Edward Forkuo Kyei, the Managing Director of GLICO LIFE, emphasize that GLICO HEALTHCARE is committed to delivering quality value-based services hence the need to educate and inform clients and stakeholders on preventative health practices.
He further indicated that GLICO HEALTHCARE has always provided health seminars and education for its service providers on quarterly basis year on year as part of its commitments to healthcare development in Ghana. Additionally, GLICO HEALTHCARE in celebrating 10 years of successful business decided to extend such valuable education to its clients and stakeholders who have supported its business successfully over the past decade.
The Chairman for the occasion, Dr. Francis Kwamin, a consultant at the University of Ghana Dental School (UGDS) stressed in his opening remarks, the need for all to take oral health seriously since the mouth is the window to the body. Dr. Kwamin iterated that, "dental doctors have access to patients face, neck and buccal cavity and thus have the privilege of identifying early signs of systemic diseases".
He further demonstrated, statistically, the prevalence of systemic diseases now in the country and urged all Ghanaians to be conscious of early warning signs which could save deterioration of health.
GLICO HEALTHCARE organized the health seminar in collaboration with the Bethel Dental Clinic, to bring to the fore how oral health and regular dental checkups can assist in identifying early signs of systemic diseases.
Dr. Wallace Ollennu, a Dental Doctor at Bethel Dental Clinic took participants through how regular oral checkups and good dental health prevents dental diseases and helps in early diagnosis and further investigations of systemic diseases. He highlighted the fact that most people view oral health in relation to only gum diseases. But interestingly, gum diseases, sometimes, are early manifestations of systemic diseases such as diabetics, osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases, HIV/AIDS, respiratory diseases, among others.
Dr. Ollennu revealed that studies carried out over time in dental patients have confirmed that "people with fewer teeth and more gum disease had a higher risk of stroke" and additionally, "chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, characterized by obstruction of airflow due to chronic bronchitis and by recurrent episodes of respiratory infection, has been associated with poor oral health status".
Clients and stakeholders in attendance at the seminar held on 23rd April 2015 at the GLICO Head Office building, Adabraka, were grateful for the opportunity to be informed on the health seminar theme and urged GLICO HEALTHCARE to organize more of such seminars.
Instructively, GLICO HEALTHCARE is the first Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) established after the enactment of the National Health Insurance Act 2003 (Act 650), to offer Ghanaians affordable and quality healthcare. It has couched a niche for itself as providing quality healthcare and excellent customer services to its clients, service providers and stakeholders.
As it celebrates its 10th anniversary under the theme, “10 years of pioneering Private Health Insurance in Ghana. Our success; our stakeholders", it seeks to say a BIG THANK YOU to all stakeholders whose immense confidence and support has brought the company this far.
With continued investments in sound and prudent business management practices, commitment to innovation, prompt claim payments and excellent products and services, GLICO HEALTHCARE is poised for greater success in the next decades.
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