BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA
Cimas Health Group, through its Dental Unit and in partnership with the United Kingdom-based dental organisation SmileStar and local partners Victoria Falls Safari Lodge and Hwange Safari Lodge and Amalinda collection among others, are hosting the second edition of the two-week free dental outreach programme in Matabeleland North Province and Matabeleland South Province.
This year the outreach programme was expanded to Matabeleland South due to overwhelming requests.
The initiative forms part of Cimas Health Group’s Corporate Social Responsibility effort, aimed at providing free oral healthcare services to underserved communities, in line with the purpose of inspiring healthier communities.
Dr Alan Gura, Head of Dental Clinics at Cimas Health Group said they were excited to be offering free dental services through the outreach programme which started in Victoria Falls, where over 700 people were attended over a period of three clinical days.
“So we have been offering a wide range of dental services ranging from just your consultations, extractions, dental cleanings, fillings, gum treatments, to mention just a few.
“The main cases that we have seen were to do with tooth decay, particularly in young children,” said Dr Gura.
He further revealed that going forward, there is need for a strong preventive program to make sure there is minimization of the development of tooth decay.
Dr Mitesh Badiani, founder of the UK-based dental charity SmileStar said this was their second visit to Zimbabwe.
“So most of the issues we deal with are preventable, which is dental decay. And we have seen that start at a very, very early age. “Now SmileStar Foundation, this is its 17th year. Unfortunately, what we are seeing is younger patients coming to us.
“So there is generally decay and patients having pain. We have been treating patients who have been in pain for over 20 years because they haven’t been able to access or been able to afford to have their teeth treated,” said Dr Badiani.
He said ahead of the World Oral Health Day, the biggest message is prevention.
“The two biggest issues of oral health problems are dental decay, which is caused mainly by sugar.
“So we need to get the views on their diet and how to manipulate this from the sugar’s point of view so we can limit the amount of attack of sugar on their teeth. So that’s the major, major issue, and that’s through education through schools. And secondly is oral hygiene, which is brushing, which prevents gum disease.
“But I also understand that means they have to have regular access to toothbrushes and toothpaste. And I think these major companies have to play a huge part in this because they’re making some of this unaffordable.
“So if you want people to be able to afford to change their toothbrushes every three months or even, you know, toothpastes, they have to make it affordable so the majority of people can afford to follow the guidelines set up by the oral health education programs,” he added.
Dr Badiani emphasized that the most important thing would be for people to cut down on sugar.
“What I mean by that is definitely for kids, they should not be given fizzy drinks.
“And in the occasion they do have the fizzy drinks, make sure they are drinking through a straw.
“So that limits the amount of time that sugar spends in the mouth, secondly definitely no sugar in teas and coffees,” added Dr Badiani.
