Walmart Ran Out of Penicillin: A Multi-Agency Response to the Oral Health Needs of Afghan Nationals

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

2:45 PM – 3:45 PM

Location: Seminole D&E

CE: 1.0

Speaker(s)

Heather Beavers, MM, RDH

Early Childhood Oral Health Specialist
MDHHS

Slides
HM

Helen McGurick, MPH

State Refugee Health Coordinator
Office of Global Michigan
Lindsay Sailor, MPH

Integrated Health Care Manager
Michigan Primary Care Association

Moderator(s)

Emily J. Norrix, MPH

Perinatal Oral Health Consultant
MDHHS

Disclosure(s):

Heather Beavers, MM, RDH: No financial relationships to disclose

Lindsay Sailor, MPH: No financial relationships to disclose

Emily J. Norrix, MPH: No financial relationships to disclose

We all watched coverage of the fall of Afghanistan back into the hands of the Taliban and the resulting exodus of Afghan citizens to other nations, including the United States. What started as an ask to the Michigan Oral Health Program to join a refugee health committee evolved into a multiagency effort in 2022 with the goal of addressing the oral health of over 1,000 Afghan Nationals. This session will discuss the state refugee dental health response and in particular, the residents of an entire large hotel turned temporary housing facility will be highlighted with focus on the creative methods used to facilitate dental care. This multifaceted effort required immense coordination with insurers, refugee agencies, nonprofit partners, dentists, academic institutions, and even the US Public Health Service. Join us to learn about cultural considerations, successes, failures, and conclusions we made when addressing the urgent dental needs of a refugee population.

Learning Objectives:

Increase knowledge surrounding refugee health and processes for incoming refugees, specifically regarding dental health
Discover techniques used to facilitate dental care within the Afghan Refugee population
Learn how to utilize diverse strategic partnerships and think creatively in complex situations
Develop an understanding of the challenges surrounding dental care and cultural considerations for Afghan refugees
Apply strategies for utilizing best practices as well as lessons learned