Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
Communities in Hwange District are benefiting from free dental services through the second edition of a joint outreach programme by Cimas Health Group and the SmileStar Foundation, which has already treated hundreds of patients in Victoria Falls.
Cimas Health Group’s head of Dental Clinics, Dr Alan Gura, said the outreach recorded an overwhelming response at its first stop in Victoria Falls, where more than 700 people were treated over three clinical days.
“We started in Victoria Falls, where we attended to over 700 people over a period of three clinical days, which was much higher than what we did last year,” he said.
“We are excited that we were able to get all these people out of pain and get them treated.”
The outreach is currently offering free treatment at Miyombo Safari Camp in Hwange District and will later move to Matobo District as part of efforts to extend oral health services to remote communities.
Dr Gura said the team would spend two days in Hwange before heading to Etanweni Children’s Home in Matobo District and later conclude the programme at Maphisa Mission Clinic.
He said a wide range of services were being offered during the outreach, including consultations, extractions, dental cleaning, fillings and gum treatments.
Dr Gura said most cases recorded during the outreach involved dental caries, particularly among young children.
“The main cases that we have seen were to do with dental caries, where there is a lot of tooth decay, particularly in young children,” he said.
“We have taken out a lot of teeth over the last few days — teeth that otherwise should have been saved.”
He said the outreach was also raising awareness ahead of World Oral Health Day and encouraged communities to prioritise oral hygiene.
“The message is simple: a happy mouth is a happy life. Take care of your teeth and your mouth and you will live a healthier life,” said Dr Gura.
Founder of the SmileStar Foundation, Dr Mitesh Badiani, said the outreach marked the organisation’s second visit to Zimbabwe and its 38th mission globally.
“This is our second visit to Zimbabwe as part of the SmileStar Foundation and our 38th in total,” he said.
During the first phase of the programme, the team operated from Mukosana Hospital in Victoria Falls, where they treated more than 700 patients with dental pain, gum disease, and other oral health problems.
Dr Badiani said the presence of a mobile dental clinic from Cimas Health Group had significantly improved service delivery during the outreach.
“This is the only place where we actually have a mobile dental clinic supporting the outreach, which enables us to provide a better service because not everyone requires extractions,” he said.
Dr Badiani said most oral health challenges encountered during the outreach were preventable, with dental decay largely linked to excessive sugar consumption and poor oral hygiene.
“We are seeing children coming at a much younger age with multiple tooth decay,” he said.
“Some patients have been in pain for more than 20 years because they could not access or afford treatment.”
Dr Badiani urged communities to reduce sugar consumption, particularly among children, and prioritise regular brushing to prevent dental problems.
“The two biggest issues of oral health problems are dental decay caused mainly by sugar and poor oral hygiene,” he said.
“Cutting down sugar in every possible way will make a difference.”
He said the long-term success of the outreach would be achieved when communities adopt preventive oral health practices.
“For me, success will be when SmileStar is no longer needed because these conditions are preventable,” said Dr Badiani.
Residents in Hwange and surrounding areas have been encouraged to take advantage of the free services while the outreach programme is still in the area.
