Clare has announced a major three-year funding agreement to continue work on a universal dental campaign with with ActionStation Aotearoa, a longstanding progressive advocacy organisation.
“We’re encouraged by political parties centring universal dental this election, and we’re very grateful for the support of Clare Foundation to ensure the progress towards implementing universal dental is accelerated in the years ahead,” says Max Harris, convenor of the Dental for All coalition based within ActionStation.
The Dental for All coalition is made up of a range of health professionals, unions, and campaigners, including the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) and Auckland Action Against Poverty (AAAP). The coalition has supported the release of ASMS’s report Tooth be Told, backed polling commissioned by ASMS showing 74% of New Zealanders back universal dental, and launched an ActionStation petition for universal dental that has attracted over 16,500 signatures.
“We are inspired by the work ActionStation has already done, and we look forward to supporting them to keep up the momentum around the critical need for dental care,” said Alice Montague, CEO at Clare Foundation.