New Delhi: Colgate-Palmolive (India) Ltd. has partnered with the Trained Nurses’ Association of India (TNAI) to integrate oral health into primary healthcare and expand access to preventive care across the country. The initiative aims to equip more than 500,000 nurses and midwives with oral health education by 2026.

The collaboration was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during the TNAI National Executive Committee Meeting in Delhi. The MoU was signed by Gunjit Jain, Executive Vice President of Marketing at Colgate-Palmolive India, Annie Kumar, National President of TNAI, and Evelyn P. Kannan, Secretary General of TNAI.

Studies show that oral care practices remain poor across India, with 80 per cent of urban residents not brushing twice a day, 55 per cent of rural residents not brushing daily, and 91 per cent of the rural population not visiting a dentist in the past year. To address this, Colgate and TNAI are launching a five-module e-learning course through TNAI’s platform and the World Continuing Education Alliance (WCEA), enabling nurses and midwives to educate communities on oral health.

Speaking about the initiative, Gunjit Jain said, “Oral health is integral to overall well-being, yet it is often overlooked. Nearly three out of four Indians are at high risk of dental problems. Nurses and midwives, with their trust and reach in communities, can play a pivotal role in early detection and education. Through this partnership with TNAI, we aim to empower them with the knowledge and tools to strengthen oral health literacy while leveraging the Oral Health Movement (OHM) data, which has the potential to map the country’s oral health status at the pincode level.”

Annie Kumar and Evelyn P. Kannan of TNAI said, “This collaboration reflects TNAI’s commitment to equipping India’s nursing and midwifery workforce with the competencies needed to advance public health and improve the well-being of communities nationwide.”

The collaboration is supported by the Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Federation (CNMF) and C3 Collaborating for Health. It is part of Colgate’s broader Oral Health Movement, which aims to strengthen oral health awareness and access across India.

By training over half a million healthcare professionals, the initiative seeks to build stronger public health outcomes and expand preventive oral care in underserved areas.

BI Bureau