The Ministry of Health and Wellness on Thursday, December 14, 2023, hosted its first in a series of regional launch events for its new oral health and dentures replacement programme, Second Chance Smiles. Already 1,045 Jamaicans – in addition to the nine new beneficiaries from the launch event – have been provided with new teeth thanks to the
programme.
Second Chance Smiles was announced by the Minister of Health & Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, during his Sectoral presentation in Parliament in May. The event was held at the Hagley Park Health Centre in Kingston and is the first of four such events to be hosted across the island’s four health regions – South East, whose event was today; Southern; North East; and Western.
“We are off to a good start with this programme and we will gather momentum in the coming months as we provide an increasing number of Jamaicans with new smiles – smiles geared at helping to enhance their life chances, socially and economically,” said the Minister of Health & Wellness. “The goal is to help 10,000 Jamaicans under 60 years of age and we will do so,” Dr Tufton added.
Programme beneficiaries, including Mr. Kirk Edwards have high praise for Second Chance Smiles. “I want to say firstly that everyone should take care of their teeth so that they don’t have to get dentures. However, I think if you get to the point where dentures are inevitable this programme is a blessing as without it, it would have been very expensive for me to get my dentures and rectify my smile,” he said.
The Ministry of Health & Wellness has committed to investing some J$60Million in the programme over 18 months.
Kirk Edwards shows off his new smile at the regional launch of Second Chance Smiles, hosted at the Hagley Park Health Centre earlier today (December 14, 2023).
