Sah awarded for contributing to mercury-free dentistry

Kathmandu: The World Alliance for Mercury-free Dentistry has awarded environmental scientist Ram Charitra Sah for making an important contribution in the field of mercury-free dentistry. Sah is also the Chief Executive Director of the Center for Public Health and Environmental Development, a non-governmental organisation.

The Alliance based in Washington D.C. of America presented its “First in Asia” Award to Sah for playing an influential role in the promotion of mercury-free dentistry.

Nepal is the first country in all of Asia to achieve mercury-free dentistry. The World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry, based in Washington with projects in 50 countries, provides this unique award that recognizes both the NGO leader who made it happen and the nation who came first.

“The quite challenging multi-year campaign to rid Nepal of toxic mercury win was engineered by Ram Sah,” said Charlie Brown, president of the World Alliance. “Deeply appreciative of Mr Ram, we give this award to recognize his years of service for the people and environment of Nepal and of the Himalayas.”

“Ram Sah is recognized as one of the outstanding NGO leaders in Asia – and indeed the world,” said Siddika Sultana, director of the Asian Center for Environmental Health in Dhaka. “We are proud that our South Asian neighbour Nepal has gone to mercury-free dentistry, and we salute my friend Ram for leading the way.”

Sah graduated in Environmental Science with Distinction Division from Bangalore University; Bangalore under the Government of India Silver Jubilee Scholarship scheme provided to the Government of Nepal on the occasion of the 25th Year of accession of the throne of Late King Birendra Shah. Mr Ram has over 20 years of working experience in the field of environment conservation and protection of public health.

His tireless research-based campaign efforts have established chemical safety issues in Nepal including bringing positive momentum about mercury-free dentistry and mercury-free health care services among most stringent and rigid dental professional and high-level policymakers through his strategic and visionary participatory approaches of engaging the Nepal Dental Association (NDA), high-level policymakers including leaders at ministries of health and environment of Nepal, the Alliance said.

As a result Government of Nepal, Ministry of Health and Population has banned the import, purchase and use of all mercury-based equipment are in the health sector of Nepal effective from 17th July 2013 as well as time-bound phase-out schemes for mercury dental amalgam effective since 21st August 2019.

NDA also made a very positive decision based on their national and international discussion and have already adopted the mercury-free dentistry practices to the maximum extent possible. An academic institution like Kathmandu University has already made improvements in their dental college towards phase down the use of dental amalgam in their theoretical as well as practical lessons.

The mission of the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry is to phase out the use of dental amalgam worldwide. To accomplish this goal, Alliance promotes effective measures to phase down amalgam use.