Welcome message Introduction Recently gained knowledge demonstrates:
1. The complexity of the fluorosis problem, in terms of its significance on the life quality and the social and physical well being of the affected people rather than, as it was considered before, only a question of discoloration of teeth.
2. The need for further studies of the occurrence of fluoride and the different forms of fluorosis as these are observed increasingly in many countries, most of which are developing countries.
3. Both the magnitude and the prevalence of fluorosis seem to be increasing as a consequence of increased utilisation of groundwater resources and the increased life span of the populations in the mentioned countries.
4. Along with the above mentioned epidemiological comprehensions significant efforts have been made to develop and to introduce different defluoridation technologies spot wise in many countries.
Thus there is a need to update the global epidemiological situation with respect to fluorosis and the state of the art of defluoridation methodologies.
Previous Workshops
During the years 1990-1999 The Environmental Development Co-operation Group, EnDeCo, initially called the Centre for Developing Countries, carried out a research project on Defluoridation Technology for use in Tanzania. The project was carried out in collaboration with the University of Dar es Salaam and the Ministry of Water, Energy, and Minerals in Tanzania. It was sponsored by the Danish International Development Agency DANIDA, under the program of Enhancement of Research Capacity programme, Enreca.
As a part of this collaboration four annual seminars were arranged in Tanzania, where involved Danish and Tanzanian researchers participated together with other Tanzanian professionals working within the field. Hereafter, in 1994, it was decided to upgrade these seminars into International Workshops in order to facilitate professional interactions among researchers working within the field in other countries. Danida-Enreca consented to use some of the EnDeCo project funds, to co-sponsor professionals from other developing countries.
Thus The 1st International Workshop on Fluorosis and Defluoridation of Water was held in Arusha, October 18-22, 1995. Thirty participants took part in the workshop; 8 countries, out of which 5 were developing countries, were presented in the workshop. About thirty papers were presented, out of which twenty-eight edited papers were published in the Proceedings. An International Committee was established and EnDeCo published the Proceedings, in agreement with a workshop recommendation, in collaboration with the International Society for Fluoride Research, ISFR. Danida, through EnDeCo, was the main sponsor for the 1st Workshop and that included the edition and a contribution for the publication of the Proceedings.
The 2nd International Workshop took place in Nazareth, Ethiopia, November 19-25, 1997. On the contrary to previous seminars and 1st Workshop, the participants of this Workshop arranged for their sponsorship on individual basis. In total about 50 persons participated and out of those, 27 participants were from foreign countries. Thirty-five papers were presented and discussed and thirty-one of these were published in the Proceedings. Danida and NORAD, the Norwegian Development Agency, were the main sponsors of the foreign participation. Through EnDeCo, Danida sponsored the edition and the contribution for the publication of the 2nd Proceedings.
The 3rd International Workshop was organised in collaboration with ICOH, the Intercountry Centre for Oral Health and took place in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on November 20th – 24th, 2000. Ninety-six participants from 13 countries, out of which 10 were developing countries, presented in the Workshop. About 30 papers were presented and discussed and 19 of those were edited and published by EnDeCo, ICOH and ISFR. The participants arranged for their own sponsorships. NORAD was the main sponsor for several Norwegian and Ethiopian participants. Danida sponsored the participation of the workshop Chairperson. ICOH and EnDeCo sponsored the editing work and ICOH succeeded to arrange for the printing of the publication in Thailand at a much lower cost than the first two Proceedings which were printed in New Zealand.
The 4th International Workshop was organised in collaboration with the Collage of Community Dentistry in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on March 2-6, 2004. About eighty professionals from 14 countries participated. Many papers were presented out of which 15 significant publications were selected for publication. The participants arranged for their own sponsorship. ICOH and EnDeCo sponsored the editing work and ICOH succeeded to arrange for the printing of the publication in Thailand. Like all the previous workshops the publications of the Proceedings were made in collaboration and under the umbrella of the ISFR.
Consultations about 5th Workshop
The International Organising Committee has carried out consultations with Ministerial Authorities and University Professionals and was encouraged to arrange the 5th International Workshop in Tanzania. Tanzania is one of the countries suffering most from Fluorosis and at the same time where the implementation of defluoridation of water is at a relatively high degree of success, i.e. there are hundreds of well functioning defluoridation units for the Workshop Participants to study.
Explore the published proceedings ↗