THE NEED FOR IMPROVED ORAL HEALTH TRAINING, RESEARCH AND CARE IN AFRICA

I am happy to present to you the third Volume of the African Journal of Oral Health (AJOH). This particular edition contains important articles on Squamous Odontogenic Tumours; Dental health among school population in Nigeria; Caries experience in the primary dentition of nursery school children; Dietary counseling in the prevention and control of oral diseases; Prosthetic management of ectodermal dysplasia and partial anodontia ; Breast-feeding, bottle-feeding and caries experience; and Oral candidosis in HIV/AIDS.

There is an urgent need to improve oral health research and care on the African continent. Global technological advancement must not leave Africa behind. It is comforting that several initiatives aimed at improving oral and general health had been put together on the African Continent in recent times. It is my hope that this trend will not only continue but, will increase and extend to other development oriented endeavours. The activities of the Federation Dentaire Inernationale (FDI) and the World Health Organisation are also noted and commended.

Reported Research findings in Journals such as AJOH have substantial influence on health sciences education and clinical practice in Africa. While it can be argued that this is the situation globally, the influence of journals appears to be particularly more penetrating in the developing countries where textbooks are not easily available or affordable.

Therefore, AJOH will continue to work assiduously towards the achievement of its noble objectives, with particular focus on the African continent.

Professor E. O. Ogunbodede
Editor-in-Chief
African Journal of Oral Health.