Diplomacy for Advocacy. So long FDI!

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When I took office as FDI President two years ago at the meeting of the General Assembly in Mexico City, I made a commitment to leave FDI in a stronger position and reinforce its reputation as a reliable, trustworthy and credible partner to our members, stakeholders, the industry and partners.

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In concrete terms, FDI has made measurable achievements in a number of areas over the past year.

The ones I would like to highlight are:

  • The Vision 2020 project, and the launch of FDI Observatory for Oral Health Prevention and Control;
  • NCD’s Non-Communicable Diseases: the success in the FDI for within the United Nations and WHO in imposing the view that oral diseases share risk factors with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases; they would therefore benefit from similar prevention and control activities;
  • the FDI Strategy for Africa;
  • our global partnership with Unilever renewed in Istanbul for 3+ 3 years;
  • our approach in the field of dental materials and its immediate results within the United Nations environment program;
  • the launch of the 2014 World Oral Health Day campaign;
  • Annual World Dental Congress (AWDC), India, New Deli 2014;
  • AWDC Thailand, Bangkok 2015;
  • Regional FDI Congress in Santiago de Chile 2015;
  • And last but not least, returning to surplus in 2013, ending a series of disappointing financial results.

I invited you to scroll down and take a look at some of it in FDI Istanbul 2013.

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Download the full report/book here (pdf).

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FDI and TDA Congress press conference with Taner Yücel president of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) and of the Turkish Dental Association (TDA)

16,197! That is the final tally of visitors attending the 2013 FDI Annual World Dental Congress (AWDC) and Exhibition, held in Istanbul (Turkey) from 28 to 31 August 2013. That makes it the biggest FDI congress for over one decade; that also makes it the largest medical congress ever held in Turkey.

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Vision 2020 phase 2 press conference: launch of FDI Observatory for Oral Health Prevention and Control.

From left to rigth, Juan Carlos Llodra Calvo (chair of FDI Public Health Committee), Nermin Yamalik (FDI Councillor), Mayur V. Dixit (Sunstar Global Strategic marketing & Scientific Affairs), Roberto Labella (head of Scientifica and Professional Affairs, Oral Care, at Johnson & Johnson).

It was also uppermost in our thoughts when, out of the different areas of focus identified in Vision 2020’s, two elements intimately related to our work on NCDs emerged as priorities. The first of these is the development of an observatory for oral health prevention and control, including data retrieval, oral health surveillance and oral health indicators.

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The other priority area identified is collaborative practice. This has two dimensions: intra-professional collaborative practice, which places oral health care within the context of a team of oral health practitioners led by the dentist.

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VIP Unilever reception. With Marie-Anne Aymerich (senior vice president Unilever Oral Care).

My words to the delegates:

…”So, it is my task once again to thank our friends at Unilever … for kindness, hospitality and all the support I have received during my term as FDI president. It has, literally, spanned all continents.

As the second phase of this unique partnership closes, I am sure that we are all looking forward to seeing the evolution and innovations of phase 3, which is set to launch later this year. “

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The 2014 theme is “Celebrating healthy smiles”.

It will be celebrated worldwide on 20 March again.

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Contract signature between FDI and the Dental Association of Thailand for the Bangkok AWDC 2015. From left to right, with Jean-Luc Eiselé (executive director of FDI) Tin Chun Wong (president-elect of FDI), Lt Gen Phisal Thepsithar (president-elect of the Dental Association of Thailand) and Adirek S. Wongsa (president of the Dental Association of Thailand).

Bangkok will be hosting the 2015 FDI Annual World Dental Congress from 22-25 September 2015.

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Regional Congress Santiago de Chile 2015 – signature with LOC representatives. From left to right, with Francisco Omar Campos Sanhueza (director Sociedad Odontológica de Chile), TC Wong, Mauricio Rudolph (president Sociedad Odontológica de Chile), Daniel Amigo (director Sociedad Odontológica de Chile) and Jean-Luc Eiselé.

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Istanbul Declaration signature approved at the 101st FDI AWDC. Oral health and general health: a call for collaborative approach ”To strongly defend oral health as a fundamental human right and an integrated part of general health and well-being.”.

From left to right, with Harry-Sam Selikowitz (vice Chair of FDI Science Committee), Li-Jian Jin (Chair of FDI Science Committee) and Taner Yücel (president of TDA).

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Escarcel study press conference. From left to right, with Teresa Layer (vice president, Oral Health Category Research and Development at GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare), Denis Bourgeois (professor of Periodontology and Public Health, Vice President of Science and Medical Faculty and Dean of the Faculty of Odontology at University of Lyon 1, France), Adrian Lussi (professor and Head of the Department of Operative, Preventative and Paediatric Dentistry, University of Bern, Switzerland), Nicola West (professor in periodontology and Head of Department, Bristol Dental Hospital and School, UK) and David Bartlett (professor and Head of Prosthodontics at Kings College London Dental Institute, London, UK).

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At the Colgate booth with Marsha Butler, VP, Global Oral Care Colgate and local responsible officers.

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World Oral Health Forum 1: “How might the Minamata Convention on Mercury affect dentistry”.

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World Oral Health Forum 2 that I had the privilege to open: “Addressing Oral Health within the Global Non-Communicable Disease (NCDs) initiative: A focus on the opportunities provided by such integration at regional and country level”.

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Opening of the Exhibition. 16000 visitors!

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Opening Ceremony of the FDI AWDC Istanbul.

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Portugal…

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Turkish Minister of Health, Mehmet Müezzinoğlu, Taner Yücel and me. Heavy burden, but worth the effort!

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A moon over the Bosphorus… A crescent shaped by a bite……“In Eastern mythologies the crescent moon also represents women, motherhood… and again as the shape of the bull horn is a symbol of power in Anatolian cultures.”, from Cem Sağbil.

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My welcome speech: “ This Annual World Dental Congress is a reflection of what FDI represents in the world today: relevant, influential, well-informed, ubiquitous”…

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The great performer Burhan Öcal.

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“Fire of Anatolia “ and “Sultans of dance” performance.

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Handover of FDI Presidential Chain to president-elect TC Wong.

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The Turkish Dental Association Organizing Committee. Well done!

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Crowds at the exhibition… more than 270 companies showcasing their products and services in some 6000 square metres…

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…and at the scientific sessions with 171 speakers and 1190 abstracts presented!

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Thanks for the support of Industry. With the president of International Dental Manufacturers (IDM) Jürgen Eberlein.

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My last Council meeting…

By joining hands in the pursuit of these goals, we have been able overcome the heavy challenges of recent. This is due to the Council, the Executive Committee, the FDI staff under the leadership of the Executive Director, and volunteers both within and external to the Committees, our industry partners and other stakeholders, all working together with the same passion and commitment to succeed.

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World Parliament

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“… I would like to personally thank ‘our man at WHO’, chief of its oral health programme, Dr Poul Erik Pedersen for his tireless efforts to keep oral health on the WHO agenda….”

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Organizing Committee New Deli, India 2014 at the GA.

FDI 2013 Istanbul was a huge success – and we are expecting the same from New Delhi. Why this confidence? A single word ‘venue’.

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Receiving certificate of appreciattion of the FDI.

“ For the future, my message is that FDI should pursue its long-established role as advocate for oral health combined with compatible diplomacy, uniting the profession and working collaboratively with other oral health specialists and health professions.
I personally stand ready to continue my engagement with FDI World Dental Federation as a passionate and committed fan of its work and achievements. “

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Thank you to the FDI staff and…

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Special thanks to the FDI Executive Director, Jean Luc-Eiséle.

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President and president-elect of the FDI, TC Wong and Patrick Hescot. Good luck for the future!

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Me with the new FDI Council!

So long! See you in New Deli!

6 Responses to Diplomacy for Advocacy. So long FDI!

  1. Everaldo Alves Nazareth Junior says:

    Congratulations, Orlando. You did a great work.
    Thank you very much.
    Everaldo Alves Nazareth Junior

  2. David H Thomson says:

    Well done Orlando. A very impressive 2 years. Regards
    David Thomson

  3. Congratulations, Orlando.
    Thank you

    Safiatou

  4. Des activites de sensibilisation doivent etre menes sur la problematique de la sante publique bucco – dentaire et ce plus particulierement dans le domaine de la malnutrition de la zone Afrique francophone.
    Dr Sekou Doro Safiatou & Dr Denis Bourgeois.

    Best regards Orlando

  5. Crucial actions should be taken to eliminate factors that generate problems in the domain of public dental hygiene health & more importantly in the field of malnutrition in the french speaking part of Africa.

    Dr. Sekou Doro Safiatou & Dr. Denis Bourgeois

    Best regards Orlando

  6. Orlando, je suis tres heureuse de partager le resume de mon projet convenu avec mon cher ami, Denis Bourgeois.
    Felicitation et bonne chance.