Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, launched a unique drive called ‘Hamdan bin Mohammed Oral Hygiene Initiative' for basic workers category, a humanitarian health initiative aimed at spreading health awareness and conducting oral health surveys in order to provide necessary treatments and carry out surgeries for the workers.

Speaking about the initiative, H.H. said: "As the world celebrated this month the International Workers Day, we want to celebrate this event in the UAE for the basic category of workers in a different way, confirming that our celebration is not only limited to words and statements but we have decided to launch a humanitarian health initiative, the direct beneficiaries of which are the workers in the emirate of Dubai. The initiative basically addresses and covers the important features to ensure the oral health of eligible workers."

"The UAE, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, pays incomparable attention to this category and the directives of Their Highnesses to all federal and local ministries and institutions are always to grant workers their rights", he said.

"Since the oral and dental treatment is highly expensive, the oral hygiene initiative to support the workers is expected to meet the urgent needs of low income category of workers. Also, the lack of health education makes them more vulnerable to mouth and teeth health problems. For this reason, we expect to achieve a big target related to workers' oral health", he explained.

He asserted that the campaigns targeting workers would go on without interruption and this initiative is aimed at expressing our gratitude to workers who contribute to the process of Dubai Renaissance. It also confirms our appreciation and respect for this important category living on the soil of our beloved country.

H.H. called upon the private sector to pay more attention to this category as well as to launch humanitarian and charitable initiatives to support and assist them to carry out the works assigned to them in high productivity and spirits.

On the other hand, the Director General of the Office of the Crown Prince of Dubai, Saif bin Markhan Al Ketbi, said that H.H. Sheikh Hamdan would bear all costs of the survey tests and necessary oral treatments for workers category in a number of phases. The first phase that lasts to the end of this year includes tests and treatment of more than 2,000 workers.

"The initiative launched in collaboration with the Permanent Committee for Labour's Affairs is primarily aimed at raising health awareness and providing low income workers with expensive oral treatment as they have no insurance to cover such treatments and the oral diseases require prompt treatment to protect the gums and the roots of the teeth in order to avoid painful conditions," he said.

"H.H. instructed Dubai Dental Clinic at Hamdan bin Mohammed College of Dental Medicine to conduct tests and surveys and identify the necessary non- cosmetic treatments required for workers. The clinic will be organising educational campaigns and field visits to target groups and then examine health problems of workers. The next step is to refer people who need treatment to the college clinics to provide therapeutic services, noting that H.H. instructed all local departments to cooperate with the initiative and provide the necessary facilities to ensure that the survey tests are conducted in a smooth and easy way to achieve the best results as expected," Al Ketbi added.