Featured Speaker: Prof. Arthur Musakulu Kemoli

The presentation defines what infant oral mutilation (IOM) is, how it is undertaken, its prevalence, and its consequences on children undergoing the procedure. It further outlines some of the efforts done in the eradication of this heinous practice, and lastly, the need for global collaboration to rid the practice wherever it is being carried out.

Arthur is a lecturer and consultant pediatric dentist at the University of Nairobi (UoN) and holds BDS (UoN), MSC (UvA), PhD (UvA), DGDP RCS (England), FDS RCPS (Glasg) degrees and diplomas. He is a past Chairman of, Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, UoN; a former honorary lecturer, the University of Zimbabwe and Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam; a past president and current Council Member, Kenya Association of Pediatric Dentists (KAPD); Member of Science Committee, International Association of Pediatric Dentistry (IAPD), Board member of Timothy DeRouine Center for global oral health, University of Washington; East African Medical Journal Publishing Company; and Member of several Editorial Boards of international scientific journals. Arthur possesses relevant knowledge and skills in paediatric dentistry, including multidisciplinary approaches to oral health issues in children, community-integrated health care systems, research planning, design, and implementation, as well as strong administrative and managerial skills. He is an experienced researcher and has published numerous books, book chapters, and journal articles in paediatric dentistry. He has participated grant-funded research (UoN, NUFFIC (the Netherlands), University of Washington/Fred Hutch Center for AIDS Research, International Association of Dental Research (IADR), Center for AIDS Research (CFAR), and NIH grants), and mentored over 40 students from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, the Netherlands, and the US in various research projects at all levels of training, examined theses in Kenya, India, South Africa, and the USA. Arthur has supported Community work (self-initiated or other group-initiated), and held positions in various community groups. Currently, Arthur is heavily involved in “Stop Infant Oral Mutilation”, a project dealing with harmful practices involving children, while also supporting efforts to improve oral health and health access for vulnerable children and those living with disability within poor communities in Kenya and the East African region.