2024 JAF Health Essay Competition

1. The Economics of Dental Care—Innovations for Affordable Solutions

Discuss the economic barriers to dental care and innovative solutions to overcome them, implicitly challenging young entrepreneurs and healthcare students to think outside the box.

2. Addressing Mental Health—The Untold Impact on Oral Health

Examine the correlation between mental health and oral health. This suggests an area ripe for innovative outreach and support strategies that younger healthcare professionals might be uniquely positioned to develop.

3. Harnessing Local Innovations to Expand Dental Care Access in Remote Areas

Explore the potential of local innovations and technology in extending the reach of dental services to remote communities, implicitly inviting the creativity and tech-savvy of young people.

4. The Cultural Dynamics of Smiling—How Societal Perceptions Influence Dental Health Priorities

Explore how cultural attitudes towards smiling and dental aesthetics affect oral health priorities and dental care practices in different societies. Discuss the implications for dental health education and the globalisation of dental beauty standards.

Fourth Prize: ₦100,000
Fifth to Tenth Prizes: ₦50,000 each
Five Honorable Mentions: ₦20,000 each

Additional Rewards: All 15 winners will receive 1 paid dinner ticket each to attend the 2024 BUDSA Health Week Dinner Ceremony celebrating their contributions and achievements.

While this competition is open to all students based on the above eligibility, we also strongly encourage participation from students who identify as women, students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and students experiencing any form of socioeconomic disadvantage. Though the above groups mentioned do not have any special preference, we aim to provide a platform for diverse voices and perspectives that are historically disadvantaged to enrich the discourse on health-related topics.

Word Count

Entrant essay contents must contain a minimum of 1,200 words and must not exceed 1,500 words excluding reference page.

Eligibility Verification

Entrants must provide any official document that clearly verifies their student status during submission such as, a signed letter of attestation from their Head of Department (HOD)/Dean, School ID, Kofa Portal Screenshot, Library ID, Transcript, Eligibility Slip etc.

If the above forms of verification are not clear enough, entrants are advised to reach out via email/social media to confirm if their available document of identity is sufficient for verification.

Originality

• Each submission must be an original work, specifically written for this competition. The essay must not have been published elsewhere or submitted to any other competition.
• Co-authorship is not allowed. Only individual entries will be considered.
• The entrant's name must not appear anywhere on the manuscript to ensure an unbiased evaluation process.

Formatting Requirements

• The text should be typed in 11 or 12-point Times New Roman font
• Do not include your name in essay manuscript
• The essay should be double-spaced, with reasonable margins on all sides
• Submit your essay as a PDF
• Entrants must include the Essay Topic Choice as a header in any aesthetically pleasing way they find fit

Citation and Referencing Guidelines

• Use APA style for formatting all citations and reference lists
• Ensure that all sources are cited in-text and included in a reference list at the end of your essay
• Quotations must be marked, and the source must be attributed correctly
• For digital sources, include a URL or DOI where possible

Judging Criteria

Essays will be evaluated based on Clarity of Expression, Spelling and Grammar, Originality of Thought, Depth of Analysis, Relevance to Industry, and Conformity to Contest Rules.

Plagiarism

All essays will undergo a plagiarism check. Submissions containing plagiarized content will be automatically disqualified.

P.S: Winners might be featured on the sponsors' website, offering further enrichment opportunities and the chance to build professional connections.