It was an honour presenting the findings from this research project at the SIdP as it allowed me to bring attention to this area of public health concern. We will be using these findings to conduct further research, and inform and design services to improve the oral health of this community.
Dr Khaleda Zaheer
20 March 2023
Cardaropoli Prize awarded to Dr Khaleda Zaheer
Dr Zaheer received her award at the 21st SIdP International Congress for presentation on the prevalence of periodontal disease in the Rohingya refugees living in camps and the host community in Bangladesh.
Dr Khaleda Zaheer was recently awarded the 'Cardaropoli Prize' by the Italian Society of Periodontology (SIdP). Dr Zaheer received her award at the recent 21st SIdP International Congress in Rimini, for her presentation on the prevalence of periodontal disease in the Rohingya refugees living in camps and the host community in Bangladesh.
Dr Zaheer is a MClinDent Periodontology Postgraduate Trainee within the Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions. In addition to her research and role at King’s, Dr Khaleda is CEO for Refugee Crisis Foundation, with a remit including designing and delivering quality healthcare programmes in emergency humanitarian settings for refugees. Since 2018, she has been leading the dental and medical programs in the world’s largest refugee camp with a population of one million refugees in Bangladesh.
The migrant crisis is an ongoing concern with continuous successive waves of forcibly displaced people worldwide. One million Rohingya refugees live in the world’s largest camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. The Rohingya refugees are trapped in statelessness which has become one of the most protracted migrant crises in the world.
Very little is known about the oral health of refugees. Dr Khaleda’s study estimated the prevalence of periodontal disease in the Rohingya refugees living in camps and the host community in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. The study found an alarming high prevalence of periodontal disease in both the refugees and host community; however a severe profile of disease was associated with the refugee group. Access to dental care was very limited with 92% of refugees and 64% of the host having never seen a dentist.
Bangladesh is a lower-middle income country facing significant challenges to health system. This adds another level of complexity to the crisis as the host community needs are as high as the refugees.
Periodontal disease is a major public health problem as it is a leading cause of tooth loss which can have a negative impact on oral health-related quality of life and nutrition.
The Italian Society of Periodontology was formed in 1979, and its main mission is the prevention, the diagnosis of diseases of the periodontal tissues and their functional and esthetic restoration.