Speaking at King Saud University in Riyadh, the minister said tooth decay among children in the Kingdom had reached such high levels that they have become psychological problems for those who suffer from them in addition to putting a huge economic burden on the country.

Al-Rabeeah said a number of sectors, including the ministries of Health, Education, and Culture and Information, and the Saudi Society for Dentistry, must collaborate to make the campaign successful.

Dr. Hassan Halawani, chairman of the Saudi Society for Dentistry, told Arab News that the immediate aim of the campaign in the next five years was to treat one million children suffering from tooth decay. The campaign aims to reduce the rate of infection from the current 90 percent to 75 percent.

Other aims of the campaign, Halawani said, were to raise awareness of oral health, emphasizing the culture of prevention of tooth decay, encouraging sound habits of oral care, including cleaning after every meal, eating a healthy diet, reducing sugars and periodically visiting the dentist.

Halawani pointed out that the campaign would be carried out in phases. The first phase in the current school term will take place in Riyadh, and it will be extended to more regions in the new academic year.

“Saudi and non-Saudi children alike are included. Priority will be given to poor children and orphans,” he said.

As the large-scale campaign necessitates volunteer participation, Halawani appealed to specialists in dentistry, both Saudi and non-Saudi, to volunteer to take part in this charitable effort. He said they could register on the campaign’s website www.ncpdc.org.sa.