Online Reporter
Fairness Moyana
A volunteer dental outreach programme led by SmileStar in partnership with CIMAS Health Group has treated more than 900 patients within a week, with organisers expecting the number to double last year’s total as the programme expands to reach more communities in Matabeleland North.
The outreach programme offered free dental services at Mkhosana Clinic from March 9 to 11 and continued at Miombo Safari Camp from March 12 to 13.
The initiative builds on the success of last year’s outreach clinics in Victoria Falls and Hwange, with the 2026 programme expanding to include Matopo in a bid to reach more underserved communities.
Founder of SmileStar, Dr Mitesh Badiani, said the partnership with CIMAS has significantly enhanced the quality and range of services offered during the outreach.
“SmileStar is a UK-based charity and this is our seventeenth year providing dental and medical care in 11 countries, including Zimbabwe. We partner with CIMAS because they offer something unique that we do not get in other countries dental expertise within the country and, most importantly, mobile dental services,” he said.
Dr Badiani said the mobile dental clinic allows the team to perform advanced procedures such as restorations and surgical extractions, which previously had to be referred to local hospitals.
“With the mobile clinics we are able to enhance the services we offer. In many countries we can only provide basic procedures, but here we can do more advanced treatments,” he said.
The outreach team consists of eight dentists bringing together over 250 years of combined dental experience, alongside specialised equipment and materials rarely available in many outreach settings.
Dr Badiani said the team uses advanced extraction techniques and strong anaesthetics to ensure that treatments are as painless as possible.
“One of the biggest fears people have about visiting a dentist is pain. That often happens because of limited access to proper anaesthetics. We bring some of the most powerful anaesthetics available, which means patients can receive treatment comfortably.”
While treating immediate dental problems is important, Dr Badiani said the organisation’s long-term goal is prevention and education.
“The best thing for SmileStar would be if we were never needed. Most of what we are treating is preventable. The biggest message we want to deliver is educating children about the dangers of excessive sugar consumption and the importance of oral hygiene,” he said.
Dr Badiani emphasised that effective oral health programmes require long-term commitment, sometimes spanning 15 to 25 years, to achieve lasting impact.
Head of Dental Clinics at CIMAS, Dr Alan Gura, said joining the outreach aligned with the organisation’s mission to inspire healthier communities.
“When SmileStar approached us last year, the decision to partner with them was an easy one,” he said.
“By bringing our mobile dental clinic, we enabled SmileStar to offer a broader range of treatments beyond extractions, including fillings, cleanings and other restorative procedures.”
Dr Gura said the programme has already surpassed expectations.
“As of yesterday we had treated close to 900 people within the first week. Last year over two weeks we treated about 1 100 patients, so it is clear that we are likely to exceed those numbers this year.”
Zimbabwe continues to face significant oral health challenges, with dental caries (tooth decay) being the most common condition affecting both children and adults.
Dr Gura said many patients present with advanced tooth decay, which often forces dentists to remove teeth because they can no longer be saved.
“In some cases we are able to preserve the teeth through fillings and restorative treatment, but many patients arrive when the decay is already severe,” he said.
Limited access to dental professionals and inadequate oral hygiene education have also contributed to the growing burden of dental disease in communities such as Hwange.
The outreach programme also focuses on oral hygiene education, with patients receiving guidance on proper brushing techniques and preventive care, supported by information pamphlets distributed during the clinics.
Organisers believe the partnership between SmileStar and CIMAS can lead to long-term solutions, including the possibility of establishing mobile dental clinics that travel across Zimbabwe providing services for several months each year.
“We are looking for long-term partners in Zimbabwe. One idea is to have a mobile dental clinic travelling across the country for three to five months every year, delivering these services to communities that need them most,” said Dr Badiani.
At Miombo Safari Camp in Dete, hundreds of residents received treatments ranging from tooth extractions to restorative and periodontal procedures, restoring not only their oral health but also their confidence.
Health workers and volunteers said the overwhelming turnout highlights the urgent need for accessible dental care in rural communities. With the programme now expanding to new areas, organisers hope the initiative will continue to improve oral health awareness and access to dental services across Zimbabwe.
