Former health minister confirmed as charity patron

Professor Mwakyusa served as Minister for Health and Social Welfare for five years between 2005 and 2010, during which time he made effective changes in various health policies which saw improvement in many statistics related to human resources for health, malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and child health. He is the author of the Tanzania primary Health Services Programme which is credited for revolutionising health care delivery in Tanzania.

Professor Mwakyusa said;

“During my time as Minister for Health and Social Welfare, I have been keenly aware of the damage and pain that oral diseases and lack of dental treatment cause in individuals and communities. Bridge2Aid is a charity that I have witnessed making a tangible, long term change in the health infrastructure in Tanzania. By training rural health workers in emergency dentistry skills Bridge2Aid is empowering local communities and by so doing making a difference. I am proud to be associated with an organisation that is promoting truly sustainable solutions with such passion and integrity.”

Professor Mwakyusa joins Bridge2Aid at critical time. Over the past 10 years the charity has almost doubled Tanzania’s capacity to treat simple, urgent dental problems. The use of volunteer trainers from the UK dental profession in a sustainable way, to train local health workers in emergency dentistry, is drawing  increasing praise and support, and the organisation is working with partners on new plans to extend its impact to benefit many more communities in pain.

CEO Mark Topley said;

“I am thrilled that Professor Mwakyusa has agreed to join us. As Tanzania’s longest serving health minister, he lends huge weight to our reputation. He has seen firsthand the impact that our approach has had in Tanzania. Our focus is on making fundamental access to pain relief available where there is none, getting people onto first rung of oral health - pain relief and the prevention of complications."