Sir, in reply to the letter in a recent edition of the BDJ, Different priorities (BDJ 2011; 211: 447–448), I should like to add my comments. I am the Dental Coordinator for Christian Relief Uganda (www.christianreliefuganda.org).

I was present at the conference in Manchester where Dr Holmgren spoke.

For six years we have run pain relief dental clinics in the rural areas and some of the prisons of Uganda, which include oral health education programmes and talks against the malpractice of infant oral mutilation. We do this in cooperation with the indigenous dentists, enhancing their skills by bringing UK dental personnel out to Uganda, who work alongside them as they treat their own people.

Our supporters have funded the further dental education of several Ugandan dentists who plan to approach government to begin work on policy change.

Working with a Ugandan visual aids company, we have designed culturally appropriate oral health education posters and booklets which our Ugandan colleagues use at outreach clinics.

Where does change begin? We have chosen to start with the roots. Who can tell where the branches may reach?