NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR ORAL REPLY
QUESTION NO. 1 (written 164 transferred)
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 15 FEBRUARY 2013
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 01)
Questions Day: 13 March 2013
Mrs H S Msweli (IFP) to ask the Minister of Health: [Written Question No
164]
What (a) is his departmentâs current position with regard to the
fluoridation of public drinking water, (b) studies have been commissioned
by his department on adverse health aspects relating to the ingestion of
fluoride in drinking water and (c) were the findings?
NO170E
REPLY:
a) The Department of Health is of the strong view that fluoridation of
public drinking water is a safe and important public health
intervention to improve oral health in South Africa. Should the
Department of Water Affairs concur, the Department of Health would
favour a phased implementation of water fluoridation.
b) In 2004 the water Research Council in collaboration with the National
Department of Health conducted a study on the âFeasibility of water
Fluoridation for South Africa. âthe Department has also closely
reviewed numerous international studies on the safety to health of
water fluoridation including a Cochrane Review which is regarded as
the gold standard of available evidence.
c) The findings of the Water Research Council in South found that water
fluoridation will prevent dental decay and is safe for population
health. The Cochrane review published in 2009 concluded that âwater
fluoridation, where technically feasible and culturally acceptable,
remains a relevant and valid choice as a population measure for the
prevention of dental caries.â They found that water fluoridation is
âeffective at reducing caries in children and adults. With the
exception of dental fluorosis, no association between adverse effects
and water fluoridation has been established. Water fluoridation
reduces caries for all social classes, and there is some evidence that
it may reduce the oral health gap between social classes.â
END.