Community Oral Health Officer

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.