First-ever community oral cancer screenings

A University of Otago dental team has taken their skills to the people, conducting more than 100 oral cancer screenings on patients in the deep south to mark World Oral Health Day.

The team, made up of dentistry academics and clinicians, travelled to Rakiura/Stewart Island and Invercargill to conduct the community oral cancer screening drive – an initiative which is believed to be a first for the area.

Associate Professor Haizal Hussaini and Dr Lynda Wixon led the project which aimed to meet the communities most in need of these services in places that are not available to them.

In 2023, Haizal presented a study on the oral biopsy services available at the University of Otago’s Oral Pathology Centre, which he says highlighted concerning increases in oral cancer cases among Māori and Pacific communities implying an urgent need for intervention to prevent escalation.

After receiving funding from the Clare Foundation, Haizal and Lynda formed a team of a group of clinicians including renowned expert in oral cancer Emeritus Professor Rosnah Zain, who travelled from Malaysia to teach and share her knowledge on how to successfully conduct and calibrate oral cancer screenings.

Three clinical teams were established, led by Lynda, Dr David Antunovic, and Dr Nurulhuda Thiyahuddin. These teams included experienced clinicians, three visiting dentistry trainees from the University of Malaya, Malaysia, who are specialising in special needs dentistry, and two Ngā Mokai tauira.

The team spent two days in Rakiura – where they screened and treated 47 patients – and then a further two days at Invercargill’s Awarua Health Clinic where they saw 55 patients.

“Given the significant oral disparities in Southland, particularly in rural communities, we believe it’s essential to provide at least some acute dental care to these communities,” Lynda says.

With the training provided by Rosnah, our team was able to perform cancer screenings and can now also train more clinicians to do this across Aotearoa.”

The team was warmly welcomed by all communities Haizal says.

“We were deeply humbled by the gratitude we received from community members, while also being struck by the significant barriers they have to receiving oral healthcare, particularly among Māori people.

“Rather than referring to roadmaps often discussed by health authorities, community-driven initiatives like this provide direct, tangible oral health services to underserved populations and it has been a privilege being a part of this.”

Kōrero by Kelsey Swart, Communications Adviser, Division of Health Sciences