ORAL HEALTH SOLUTIONS ORGANIZATION (OHSO)
THE FOUNDER AND LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE
Frank RWEMA, BDent, PG Cert.Mgmt (HSM), MDPH
DENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH SPECIALIST
VISION
I envisage Rwandans with improved oral health irrespective of their social gradient. I see a population able to make right choices with regard to oral health, committed to create an environment favourable to good health through promotion of adequate oral hygiene practices
To achieve this vision, an effective oral health promotion approach is needed. OHSO, its partners and stakeholders will endeavour to raise awareness of the public to pay attention to causes of poor oral health and help them recognize that individual’s behaviours are entangled within the environment, socio-economic situations under which they live.
Being results driven organization, understanding the variations of oral health will help the organization shift the focus towards people’s life context, and consequently be encouraged to advance campaigns that raise awareness and help drive forward a cavity free future among all people living in Rwanda and beyond.
Biography
Frank RWEMA is a Dental Public Health Specialist, founder and Legal Representative elected by OHSO General Assembly at the electoral meeting held on 16th October 2019. He is the first OHSO Legal Representative to have been elected. Few days after taking office, Frank RWEMA started engaging various Ministries, Non-Government Organizations and institutions for building partnerships, raising awareness about oral health and advocacy for integrating oral health in maternal and school health.
Prior to his election as OHSO Legal Representative, Frank RWEMA served as the Director of Citizen Medical Outreach Services, office he held from 2015 up to 2017 and during the same period he was also Vice Chairperson of Oral Health Promotion Committee (OHPC) of Basic Package Oral Care (BPOC) Project run by Tandsundhed Uden Graenser (TUG), a position he still holds. TUG, in English, means Dental Health Without Borders, and is a Danish Non-Government Organization working for better oral health in less affluent communities, through SOS-Children’s Villages Rwanda.
In the roles he played there was organizing Citizen Medical Outreach Activities with the aim to take medical and dental health care services near to where underserved communities live. He expanded BPOC strategy and focused too on advocacy for integrating oral health into maternal and school health.
Born in Rwamiko Sector, Gicumbi District, Northern Province of Rwanda, Frank RWEMA holds a masters’ degree in Public Health Dentistry from University College London (UCL), a Post Graduate Certificate in Health Services Management (HSM) from the Open University London and Bachelor in Dental Technology. Throughout his career, Frank RWEMA with his co-author have published scientific articles in prominent scientific journals. In April 2013, Frank RWEMA received an award in recognition of highly allegiant and meritorious services rendered while serving as a Deputy Force Medical Officer of UNAMID and a medal in recognition of duties in the service of Peace of African Union- United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur.
In 2012, Frank RWEMA, participated in the formulation of integrated training module for community health workers (CHWs) on NCDs, mental health, oral health, eye health, HIV/AIDS & TB, GBV and palliative care, with aim to develop a training manual that intended to outline in detail the work of CHWs in this integrated approach to community health.
In October 2011, Frank RWEMA participated in the National Conference on Violence Against Children (VAC) organized by UNICEF- Rwanda. His presentation at the conference focused on etiology and impact of Infant Oral Mutilations (IOM) to unfortunate infants subjected to them.
In July 2009, Frank RWEMA attended a conference in the United Kingdom, on community dentistry, organized by British Association for Study of Community Dentistry (BASCD).
Frank RWEMA is married to one wife and is blessed with five children, and five grandchildren.
TOGETHER WITH CAN MAKE A DIFFIRENCE
