First Tongan dentists inducted as ICD Fellows [1]
Saturday, September 17, 2022 - 01:35
Chief Dental Officer Dr. Fakakovikaetau and Dr. Sisilia Fusi Fifita, Oral Pathology Specialist, became the first Tongan dentists of the Ministry of Health to be inducted as Fellows of the International College of Dentists in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The two-long serving dental professionals received their Certificates of Fellows from Dr. Clive Ross CNZM, Past International President and Section VIII International Councillor, at the ICD on 20 August.
The Dental Department stated this week, that King Tupou VI had conveyed in a message his congratulations to the two dentists for their induction.
Dr Fakakovikaetau told Matangi Tonga today, that he was very pleased that the International College of Dentists had seen fit to bestow them the distinction as Fellows, and he thanked the Palace Office for the recognition.
"It is marked to recognize our ability and advance the art and science of dentistry, and also honour the collective efforts by our colleagues in the dental profession in Tonga, in trying our best to serve our communities.
Dr Fifita also conveyed her gratitude, and said she had dedicated this award to all the staff of the Dental Department and the Ministry of Health, “for all the work we have collectively planned and achieved in the clinic and the outreaches throughout the Kingdom, for the benefit of all the schools in the Malimali Project and communities of Tonga."
Long serving
Dr. Fakakovikaetau has over 30-years of working as a clinician and supervisor of the Dental Division at Vaiola Hospital.
He has been on the Ministry of Health Executive since 2013 and President of the Oral Health Pacific Island Alliance (OPIA), a regional organization for dental professionals in the Pacific, since 2016.
Dr Fifita who is on her 29th year in the Oral Health Division continues to provide general dental services within the public health system.
She is a Member of a South Pacific Medical Team-Japan, that coordinates Japanese volunteers to Tonga, and is the coordinator of the outreach school-based 'fluoride mouth rinse' programs to all primary schools in Tonga, for over 10-years now.
This is known as the Malimali (smile) Project.
The two received their invitations in 2019 to become Fellow of the Australasian Section of the International College of Dentists, but due to COVID-19 restrictions they were not able to attend their induction, until this year.
Fellowship in the college is by invitation only and is granted in recognition of a dentist’s leadership and substantial contributions to the profession and to oral health in the community beyond, what is expected of a dentist in his/her discipline or arena of practice.