Ferguson inducted as Fellow of the International College of Dentists

Minister of Health Dr Fenton Ferguson has been awarded the highest and most prestigious dental fellowship, with high commendation not only for his contribution to dentistry, but because of highlighting dentistry through his political position as minister of health.

Ferguson was inducted as Fellow of the International College of Dentists (ICD) in a ceremony which took place on Sunday at the University of the West Indies, Mona.

In his address, the health minister said the induction was historic as it was the first of its kind in the English-speaking Caribbean for the 85-year-old organisation.

"I am the first minister of health to be a dentist. I have a historic responsibility not just for the health of the country, but also for this profession," he said.

"The induction ceremony reflects the best of the Caribbean. The challenges are great, but we have a vision. My vision is for Jamaica to become the health hub of the Caribbean by 2030. We have a good team, so I'm confident that this can happen."

He added that the fellowship represented a culmination of the hard work that has been going on in the field.

"We have a responsibility to protect the ICD. Therefore, our work has just begun. Oral health has not got the recognition it deserves, but we have made some progress. I want all of us as fellows to fight to ensure that oral health is fully recognised," he noted.

A number of other individuals were inducted as ICD fellows, including Dr Tony Lewis, Professor Errol Morrison, Professor Everard Barton, Dr Irvine McKenzie, Dr Winston Grey, and Dr Doryck Boyd, among others.