Fiji, May 20 -- World Health Organisation (WHO) Western Pacific regional director Dr Saia Ma'u Piukala has called for stronger global investment and political commitment to tackle oral diseases, warning nearly 960 million people in the Western Pacific are affected by preventable oral health conditions.

Speaking during the launch of the Global Coalition on Oral Health at the ongoing World Health Assembly in Geneva, Dr Piukala said oral health remained central to overall health and wellbeing.

"There is no health without oral health," Dr Piukala said.

"A maxim I've long used to underscore how crucial oral health is to lifelong health and well-being - as I know from my years as a doctor and surgeon in my homeland of Tonga."

Dr Piukala wel...