Local Access to Universal Good Health (LAUGH)

In partnership with Dental Health Without Borders (DHWB) of Denmark, REEP-Ghana is piloting a community-driven oral health initiative in Northern Ghana. The project strengthens local capacity for preventive dental care, equipping teachers, community volunteers, and caregivers with the knowledge and tools to promote healthy oral hygiene practices among school-aged children, reducing pain, absenteeism, and stigma.

PROJECT REACH AND PARTNER SCHOOLS

The LAUGH project directly targets over 100 primary beneficiaries across 3 districts in Northern Ghana, including school-aged children, teachers, SHEP coordinators, community volunteers, and core REEP staff. The project works through 3 partner primary schools, namely Gbanjong AME Zion Primary School in the Tolon District, Jegbo D/A Primary School in the Kumbungu District, and Yong M/A and KG Primary School in the Savelugu Municipality. These schools serve children between the ages of 6 and 15 in predominantly rural and peri-urban communities. Beyond the primary group, the project envisions reaching an estimated 100,000 to 150,000 secondary beneficiaries including parents, caregivers, community leaders, and the general public across the three districts through community outreach, stakeholder engagement, and media dissemination.

OUTCOMES AND TARGET GROUPS

PROJECT OUTCOMES

1. Strengthened Local Capacity: Training REEP staff, teachers, and SHEP coordinators with the skills and tools to plan, deliver, and sustain school-based oral health education beyond the project period.
2. Improved Access to Oral Health Education: Developing culturally appropriate, low-text information and education materials in local languages for use in schools and communities across all three districts.
3. Increased Community Awareness and Engagement: Engaging parents, traditional leaders, and community members to promote preventive oral health practices and encourage early care-seeking behaviour for children.

OUR TARTGET GROUPS

School Children Aged 6 to 15: Primary school pupils from Kumbungu, Tolon, and Savelugu districts participate in oral health education sessions and hygiene demonstrations, building lifelong preventive habits from an early age.

School Teachers: Teachers from participating basic schools are trained and supported to deliver oral health education as part of regular school activities, ensuring impact continues well beyond the implementation period.

SHEP Coordinators: District School Health Education Programme coordinators link health services, school activities, and the Ghana Health Service, helping integrate preventive oral health practices into existing health education structures.

Community Volunteers: Trained community members champion oral health awareness at the household and community level, reinforcing school messages, supporting parent engagement, and bridging the gap between schools and communities.

Dental Mission, Volunteer Dentists from DHWB: Danish dental professionals from Dental Health Without Borders provide technical support, conduct oral health screenings in schools, and work alongside King’s Medical Centre to build local knowledge and referral capacity.

King’s Medical Centre, Kumbungu: The only dental facility serving a combined population of over 351,575 people across the three districts, serving as the primary referral point for children identified with dental conditions during project outreach and screening activities.

WHERE WE WORK

Kumbungu district:  A largely agrarian district in the Northern Region with a dispersed rural population of approximately 110,586 people. Access to dental care is extremely limited, with most families relying on a single dental unit at King’s Medical Centre for the entire district. Preventive oral health education is minimal in schools, and many children live with untreated dental conditions.

Savelugu Municipality:  A growing municipality in the Northern Region with a population of approximately 122,888 people. Despite being more accessible than surrounding districts, oral health remains largely overlooked. Most schools lack integration of oral health into the School Health Education Programme, and families face economic barriers to accessing dental services in Tamale.

Tolon district:  A rural district in the Northern Region with a population of approximately 118,101 people. Community life is shaped by traditional norms where dental problems are commonly accepted as normal, and health-seeking behaviour tends to be reactive rather than preventive. Schools in the district lack the tools and trained personnel to deliver basic oral health education.

CONTRIBUTING TO THE SDGS

SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing	SDG 4: Quality Education
SDG 5: Gender Equality	SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals