Dr Alan Gura performing a procedure on a patient at Chinotimba Clinic in Victoria Falls
BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA
Smilestar, a United Kingdom based dental organisation, has partnered with Cimas Health Group in providing free access to oral healthcare to remote and underserved communities in Matabeleland North Province.
The two institutions conducted a two-week-long dental outreach program that ended this Thursday (March 20).
As part of the dental outreach programme, Cimas Health Group in addition to providing their doctors, also offered their fully equipped mobile clinic for free.
The Smilestar and Cimas Health Group doctors, assisted by Victoria Falls-based Doctor Blanch, provided free dental care and treatment offering restorative work, periodontal treatments and simpler endodontic cases that were completed in a single visit set up.
The outreach program commenced on March 10 at Chinotimba Clinic (Chinotimba Medical Centre) in Victoria Falls, where treatment was provided to patients for four days.
After the successful Victoria Falls mission, the medical team from March 17 up to March 20, were in Hwange offering dental services stationed at Hwange Miombo Safari Camp in Dete.
Founder of Smilestar, Doctor Mitesh Badiani, said the collaboration with Cimas Health Group enabled a successful delivery and outcome of their desired results for the dental outreach in Zimbabwe.
“Cimas Health Group’s support, including the provision of their doctor Alan Gura, a nurse, and a fully equipped mobile dental clinic, significantly enhanced our ability to deliver quality care with more treatment options for the local population.
“Such a setup allowed us to offer much better services, as we were able to refer for restorative treatments and simple root fillings work to Doctor Alan Gura ensuring more comprehensive dental care for the communities we served.
“We have not been able to offer such a service in our previous outreach programmes. This is how I envisage the future of Smilestar all over the world where a mobile dental clinic accompanies our team in every outreach we undertake,” said Doctor Badiani.
He added that Cimas Health Group’s contribution significantly enhanced the quality and efficiency of the care they delivered during the outreach.
“Previously I have worked with companies with mobile dental clinics and none have had the equipment, materials, and expertise of the local dentist that Doctor Alan Gura and his Cimas Health Group team were able to provide.”
Doctor Badiani also expressed gratitude to UK-based Zimbabwean born Mark Cockburn, for playing a key role in making the Smilestar trip to Zimbabwe a success.
And he emphasized the vital role of volunteers in sustaining the Smilestar’s outreach programs.
“Smilestar relies entirely on the dedication of volunteer dentists and support staff, who self-fund their trips.
“For this outreach, the volunteers generously committed up to two weeks of their time and money to ensure the success of these outreach programs in Matabeleland North province,” he said.
Reflecting on the Zimbabwean outreach, Doctor Badiani noted that most of the dental issues observed were preventable, highlighting the need for schools to incorporate oral hygiene and dietary education into their curricula.
He further noted that limited access and affordability remain major barriers to dental healthcare in the province, pointing out that a single tooth extraction can cost nearly US$80, a price beyond the reach of most residents in the province.
And when asked about the possibility of expanding the outreach to other regions in Zimbabwe in future, Doctor Badiani expressed enthusiasm, but stressed the need for strong partnerships.
“We would love to expand, but we require support from partners like Victoria Falls Safari Lodge or equivalent that can provide free accommodation, food, and transport for our team,” he said.
Doctor Badiani revealed that his passion for serving the underprivileged has been the driving force behind commitment to global dental outreach initiatives.
“I was born in Kenya and raised in the United Kingdom, and it has always been a family value that we need to serve parts of the society all over the globe who are underprivileged and suffer the most.
“I started this outreach programme under the Smilestar banner 15 years ago and Zimbabwe marks our 11th country we have reached, with this being our 34th outreach event. My heart belongs to Africa, and hence why I spend 95 percent of my time in Africa.”
Meanwhile, Cimas Health Group’s Chief Executive Officer, Vuli Ndlovu, said the Smilestar dental outreach program aligns with their purpose to inspire healthier communities.
“We are proud to have collaborated with the UK-based Smilestar and other local partners who also came on board such as Chinotimba Clinic (Chinotimba Medical Centre), Victoria Falls Safari Lodge and Hwange Miombo Safari Camp for this initiative which is crucial in enhancing oral health awareness and accessibility, ultimately contributing to overall community well-being.
“Smilestar’s goal of delivering free dental care to those in need, particularly in areas where access to such services is limited perfectly aligns with our purpose at Cimas Health Group hence, the effective partnership for this outreach program,” said Ndlovu.
Ndlovu said as Cimas Health Group, they believe that access to healthcare, including oral health, is a fundamental right adding that they are committed to improving health outcomes and fostering healthier futures for all.
“Partnering Smilestar and providing our fully equipped mobile clinic for free that allows delivery of the exact level of care one would get in a high-end dental clinic, as well as our doctors is a testament to our commitment to extending essential medical services to underserved areas,” he.
He added that as Cimas Health Group, they also believe that oral healthcare must be accessed across all corners of the country, especially remote communities where such services are often unavailable.
“Through this outreach with both our international and local partners, we were not only providing immediate dental treatment, but also educated and empowered communities with sustainable oral health knowledge that will benefit them for years to come,” he noted. Mr Ndlovu said as Cimas Health Group they fully support the government programmes.
“Our officials will today (March 20) join the Ministry of Health and Childcare organised commemorations of this year’s World Oral Health Day, at Kusile Government Primary School in Lupane District, Matabeleland North province,” he added.
