PDA takes oral cancer fight beyond clinics in Karachi

KARACHI: The Pakistan Dental Association (PDA) has taken its oral cancer prevention campaign into the community, combining oral screening with practical health education for residents of Surjani Town.

The community oral health awareness camp was held on October 4, 2026, at Khadija Kazi Ali Memorial High School, where participants were guided on oral hygiene, routine dental care and the importance of seeking professional help for persistent or unusual changes inside the mouth.

PDA members conducted the initiative with volunteers from Fatima Jinnah Dental College, Baqai Dental College, Altamash Institute of Dental Medicine and Ziauddin College of Dentistry.

The programme sought to make preventive dental care more accessible by reaching people outside conventional clinical settings. Community members underwent oral screening and received guidance on proper brushing, maintaining oral cleanliness and attending regular dental examinations.

Participants were encouraged not to wait for severe pain or advanced disease before consulting a dental professional. The organisers stressed that timely assessment can help identify oral health problems at an earlier and potentially more manageable stage.

Oral cancer awareness was a central component of the camp. Residents were advised to seek professional evaluation for persistent mouth ulcers, unusual growths and unexplained changes in the colour or texture of oral tissues.

Such changes do not necessarily indicate cancer, but persistent or worsening symptoms require examination by a qualified dentist or doctor. Relying only on home remedies or delaying an assessment can allow a serious condition to progress undetected.

The outreach team also highlighted the harmful effects of gutka, mainpuri, naswar, tobacco and other products that are chewed or placed inside the mouth.

Participants were informed that repeated exposure to these substances can irritate oral tissues, damage the teeth and gums and cause changes in the oral mucosa. Continued use may contribute to potentially precancerous conditions and oral cancer.

The World Health Organization identifies tobacco, alcohol and areca nut use among the leading causes of oral cancer. Research reported by the International Agency for Research on Cancer estimated that approximately one in three oral cancer cases worldwide in 2022 was attributable to smokeless tobacco or areca nut consumption.

The community was encouraged to avoid harmful chewing products and seek professional assistance if support was needed to discontinue their use.

The camp also allowed dental students and volunteers to engage directly with the public and strengthen their understanding of dentistry’s preventive and social responsibilities.

Through screening and education, volunteers from the four participating institutions helped communicate oral health information in a community setting, reinforcing the role of future dental professionals in preventing disease as well as treating it.

The initiative received support from Platinum Pharmaceuticals and Colgate. Platinum Pharmaceuticals provided medicines and toothpaste for distribution among community members, while Colgate supplied goody bags containing oral healthcare products.

The support enabled participants to take practical oral-care resources home and reinforced the preventive messages delivered during the programme.

By bringing dental professionals, students, industry supporters and community members together, the initiative sought to build greater awareness of oral cancer, discourage harmful chewing practices and encourage people to take early changes in the mouth seriously.

The Surjani Town camp reflected the PDA’s wider effort to take preventive dentistry beyond institutional boundaries and reach communities that may not regularly receive oral screening or professional health guidance. Its message was direct: the fight against oral cancer must begin before advanced disease develops, through informed choices, early recognition and timely professional care.