Community Oral Health Officer

Community Oral Health Officer (COHO)

Job Summary

The Community Oral Health Officer (COHO) is responsible for providing comprehensive primary oral healthcare services, conducting dental procedures, and implementing community-based preventive and promotive health programs. The role balances clinical delivery within the facility with field outreach to improve population-wide oral health indicators.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Care

• Diagnosing oral diseases, performing routine scaling, polishing, prophylaxis, simple extractions, and non-complex restorations (such as Atraumatic Restorative Treatment).

Preventive Interventions

• Applying pit and fissure sealants, administering topical fluoride therapies, and conducting routine oral health screenings, particularly targeting vulnerable groups like school-aged children.

Community Outreach & Education

• Designing and executing public health campaigns on nutritional hygiene, oral health habits, and collaborating with local community stakeholders to drive program adoption.

Infection Control & Resource Management

• Maintaining strict sterile processing fields, monitoring autoclave cycles, managing dental consumables inventory, and adhering to universal healthcare safety precautions.

Patient Management & Support

• Managing patient anxiety with strong interpersonal skills, obtaining informed consent, and maintaining accurate clinical records and epidemiological data.

Job Specifications & Qualifications

Education

• Diploma in Community Oral Health from a recognized medical training institution.

Licensure

• Active registration and valid practicing license from the relevant national regulatory body (e.g., the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council or relevant board).

Core Skills

• Proficiency in primary dental procedures, excellent emergency response capabilities (e.g., managing post-extraction bleeding), cultural humility, and high-quality customer care.