King's Dental Student leads oral health care outreach project in Tanzania
King’s Dentistry final year student Olivia Johnson King has led a group of 30 dental volunteers from 14 nations across Africa, Europe and India to provide oral health care and education to children in Tanzania. The “Pamoja” Project is a student-led five-year European and Tanzanian initiative to improve dental health care. This year marked the Project’s first outreach mission.
The group, made up of dentists and dental students, made a huge impact while in Tanzania. Over just two-weeks, Olivia’s volunteers screened 2000 children, provided 2800 with oral health education and the qualified dentists provided 663 children with dental treatments. With the help of donations such as equipment from Henry Schein, the team performed approximately 915 fissure sealants and 601 restorations.
“I have planned for this project to be a five year initiative which I hope will provide elective opportunities for students at KCL DI,” explains Olivia. "From a personal perspective it was a privilege to work with and lead a team of hard working and highly motivated dentists and dental students. I was very touched to see the positive disposition of the schoolchildren in Tanzania and it was a pleasure to teach them about oral health as they were very receptive, appreciative and keen to learn."
"The whole experience was rewarding on many levels and despite the hard work I have come back feeling richer in terms of my skill set and personal development as a dental practitioner."
The word Pamoja means “together” in Swahili, and the project is a collaboration between the European Dental Students’ Association (EDSA), the Tanzania Dental Students’ Association (TDSA), Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS). A result of 18 months of planning, organisation and fundraising, every child seen was provided with oral health education and free toothbrushes and toothpaste. Clinical information was provided in their native tongue.
Oliva Johnson King is King’s College London’s representative for the EDSA. Olivia has thoroughly enjoyed her role as the BDSA & EDSA Representative of the Dental School. “The wealth of opportunities and the variety of experiences I have had over the years are second to none - this however, would not have been possible without the continuous support of the Dental Institute.”