Promoting Oral Health for Refugees: A Call to Action

The scale of global forced displacement is increasing worldwide as a result of persecution, armed conflict, generalized violence, natural disasters, famine, and economic changes. Refugees are one of the most vulnerable and marginalized populations globally, facing significant challenges in accessing health care, including oral health care.

Like all people, refugees are entitled to access health care, including oral health care, as guaranteed by the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. This right is further reinforced by the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, which require countries to ensure that such care is provided without discrimination and on the same basis as nationals.

Oral health is an integral part of overall health and well-being. However, oral health and access to oral health care for refugee populations remain areas of concern. The FDI World Dental Federation, Framework Convention on Global Health Alliance, Sustainable Health Equity Movement, and World Federation of Public Health Associations believe that access to oral health care is a fundamental human right and recognize that oral health is an integral part of overall health and well-being. They urge policymakers, healthcare providers, and international and national organizations to:

1. Include oral health as a part of current and future refugee health strategies and priorities, including for pregnant women, mothers, and young children,
2. Promote the importance of oral health and the rights of refugees among both healthcare and non-healthcare staff who encounter refugees to raise awareness of refugees’ right to health, including oral health, and
3. Ensure equitable access to essential oral health services for refugees as an integral component of primary and antenatal care and as a matter of their rights, in partnerships with national and local dental and health organizations.